The name Nerine masoniorum (the officially accepted spelling) commemorates both Marianne Harriet Mason (1845-1932) and her brother Canon Edward Mason, hence the genitive plural form. He was Principal of St Bede's Native College at Umtata, formerly in the Transkei (now Mthatha, Eastern Cape). The plant grows/grew in this area. According to Gunn & Codd's 'Botanical Exploration of Southern Africa' (1981), Marianne 'made leisurely journeys by cart and horses to out-of-the-way places' [in eastern South Africa] collecting seeds and bulbs and painting plants. Crocosmia masoniorum also commemorate the pair, while Watsonia masoniae honours just Marianne. John Grimshaw Visit John Grimshaw's Garden Diary http://johngrimshawsgardendiary.blogspot.com/ Dr. John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Tel. 01242 870567 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Russell Stafford, wrote: > Isn't it Nerine masonorum? Which is curious anyway, because presumably > the name commemorates Francis Masson. > >