68 DR. J. D. HOOKER ON A NEW HELICONIA. 
Calcutta Botanic Gardens. I have added a description of the 
plant. 
Aseria CAFFRA, Hook. f. & Harv. in Fl. Cap. ii. Addend. 584. Fru- 
ticosa, ramis strictis, spinis rigidis patentibus armatis, spinis longissimis, 
atutis; folis petiolatis, ovatis, ovato-oblongis, basi attenuatis, apice 
obtusis, emarginatis, margine integris, glabris, coriaceis, paucinerviis ; 
floribus foemineis solitariis, pedunculatis, in ramulis abbreviatis 4-5 
confertis ; calyce 5-8-partito, plerumque 7-partito, persistente, petalis 
et staminibus nullis ; ovario globoso, glabro, 6- vel 7-locularis, rare 8- 
locularis ; stylis 6-8, divergentibus, minute puberulis; fructu globoso, 
glabro, carnoso, seminibus ovatis, compressis. 
Hab. In horto botanico Calcuttensi, ex Africa australi, culta. 
Frutex 15-20-pedalis. Cortex cinereus, glaber. Rami striati, spinosi. 
Spine axillares, patentes, rigid, 11-3 unc. longe. Folia in virgis, 
alterna, in ramis veteribus fasciculatis, 1-2 unc. longa, 1-1] unc. lata, 
petiolo 1-1 une. longo. Flores masculi ignoti ; feminei glabri, pallide 
virides, parvi, pedunculo glabro, fere 3 unc. longo. Fructus pomum 
parvum in magnitudine aquans, basi calyce persistente cinctus; Cor- 
tice flavo; succo flavo, sublacteo, in usu grato. 
On a new Heliconia with the habits of a Musa, sent from New 
Granada by Dr. A. ANrHorye to the Royal Gardens, Kew. By 
J.D. Hoox®r, M.D., F.R.S. & L.S. 
[ Read January 15, 1863.] 
Turs very remarkable plant was first brought under my notice by 
P. Le Neve Foster, Esq., Secretary of the Society of Arts, who re- 
ceived a sketch of it from Dr. Anthoine of Carthagena, with some 
account of the fibre its peduncles produce. Mr. Foster put me 
in communication with Dr. Anthoine, who exerted himself at once 
in procuring dried specimens and seeds for the Royal Gardens of 
Kew. The former consist of three perfect spikes, and some flowers 
dried for examination, which, with his sketch and notes, have 
enabled me to draw up the following description :— 
The habit, size, and general appearance of this noble plant are 
those of a Musa, the trunk, which attains 12-16 feet in height, 
being formed by the vagine of the leaves. The peduncles project 
far beyond the leaves, and, curving downwards, bear a large, narrow, 
flattened spike, 25 feet long, something resembling the tail-rattle 
of the rattlesnake on a gigantic scale. The structure of the flower 
and fruit accords perfectly with that of other Heliconia, but these 
eel 
