WACHENDORFIA (named after E. J. Wachendorf, 1702-1758, a Dutch botanist, professor at Utrecht). SYN. Pedilonia. ORD. Hoemodoraceae. A small genus (seven species have been enumerated, but probably not more than three are truly distinct as such) of greenhouse or half-hardy, tuberous-rooted, perennial herbs, confined to South Africa. Flowers in terminal panicles, often villous; perianth yellow, oblique, the tube wanting; segments narrow or obovate-oblong, the outer ones, especially the back one, dissimilar to the rest, decurrent to the pedicels; stamens three. Leaves few, ensiform or rarely linear, sometimes large, more or less plicate-veined. Stem erect, sometimes thickened at base. A mixture of very sandy loam and a little peat is well suited to the requirements of Wachendorfias. If planted out in a pit or frame, where protection from frost can be ensured, they will flower much stronger than if kept in pots. Little or no water should be given during the resting season. Propagation may be effected by offsets, or by seeds. Some of the species will thrive in the open air in the South of England if planted in a sheltered position. WACHENDORFIA brevifolia (short-leaved). fl. nodding; perianth crimson, intermixed with tawny-yellow, softly hairy outside; raceme loose. April. l. lanceolate, five-nerved, plicate, villous, distichous, about 6in. long, falcately diverging. Stem 1ft. high, green, hairy. 1795. (B. M. 1166.) WACHENDORFIA hirsuta (hairy). fl. drooping; perianth red in bud, golden-yellow when expanded; peduncles four or five-flowered, secund; panicle spreading; bracts villous. April. l. linear-ensiform, three-nerved, villous. Stem 1 1/2ft. high, villous. 1687. (B. M. 614.) SYN. WACHENDORFIA villosa (A. B. R. 398). WACHENDORFIA paniculata (paniculate). fl., perianth golden-yellow, the segments pubescent outside, rubicund, obovate; pedicels racemose, secund, pubescent; peduncles spreading, three to five-flowered. April. l. ensiform, three-nerved, bifarious, one-third the length of those of WACHENDORFIA thyrsiflora. Stem greenish, corymbose-paniculate. h. 1 1/2ft. 1700. (B. M. 616.) pallida is a form with a pale yellow perianth. (B. M. 2610.) WACHENDORFIA thyrsiflora (thyrse-flowered).* fl. in a terminal spike, the rachis angular; perianth yellow, the lobes cuneate-lanceolate; lower branchlets of the spike three or four-flowered. May. l. ensiform, five-nerved, glabrous. Stem nearly simple. h. 2ft. 1759. (B. M. 1060.) WACHENDORFIA villosa (villous). A synonym of WACHENDORFIA hirsuta.