154 MR. P. GROOM—CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 
frequently do not separate wholly. Hence no sharp distinction , 
between species of Galeola with dry dehiscent fruits and species 
with succulent fruits can be maintained. 
Blume's original description may be here given in so far as it 
refers to the vegetative characters :— 
* Habit. In Java occidentali, in saltibus altiorum montium, 
veluti in monte Salak, supra agros coffeá consitos elevatiores, ubi 
variis anni temporibus hane plantam florentem fructibusque 
onustam indagavi. 
“Descr. Planta carnosula, Orobanchis nostris habitu simillima. 
“ Radix fibris creberrimis crassis carnosis cylindricis aut 
claviformibus in fasciculum congestis inæqualis longifudinis 
constans. 
* Caules plerumque ex eadem radice, spithamei, arrecti, sim- 
plieissimi aut in ramos aliquot alternos erecto-patentes divisi, 
ex tereti subangulati, rubicundi, setate purpurascentes, inferne 
glabri ac nitidi, apice papilloso-scabridi. Pro foliis squamæ sub- 
carnose, alternz, ovate, acute, concave, ejusdem coloris ac caules, 
sed que ad basim eorum sunt, majores magisque approximate, in 
fuscum vergentes.” 
This description may be supplemented by a few explanatory 
remarks. 
The subterranean part of the plant is not simply a massive 
root-system, but is made up of a short irregular rhizome on 
which are densely set the large, club-shaped fleshy roots, scales 
and scale-bearing buds of varying size. 
The stems to which Blume alludes are the inflorescence-axes, 
which alone are visible above ground. The scales on them are 
decurrent (woodcut 1). 
My material consisted of one plant with au inflorescence- 
axis, and bearing three large succulent fruits. And all the 
observations relate to this plant. In addition, I had another 
plant which was much smaller and younger. In this plant 
(fig. 1) there was also one inflorescence-axis surmounted by a 
number of floral buds. In external morphology and histologically 
it agreed with Galeola javanica, and its flower-buds were those 
of an orchid. It undoubtedly belonged to the same genus; but 
as it possibly might be another species, I shall throughout the 
paper describe it as specimen B, and particularly state when the 
observations refer to it. In addition, I had two roots of a mature 
plant collected by Professor Stahl. 
