126 DR. H. F. HANCE’S SUPPLEMENT TO 
In rice-fields and pools, flowering in July and August, but not 
common. Found also in the Indian peninsula, in Bengal, as far 
north as Assam, and in the Malay archipelago. 
34. Alpinia stachyodes, sp. nov.: foliis longe vaginantibus sessilibus 
lanceolatis coriaceis 8-15 poll. longis 13 poll. latis preter marginem 
dense et breviter cibatum apicemque in acumen lineare tomentosum 
pollicare productum glaberrimis, ligula scariosa vaginas valide nervo- 
sas marginante tomentella apice breviter producto rotundato bifido 
dense ciliato, spica terminali ereeta densa cylindracea 33 poll. longa 
basi bractea involucrali scariosa lineari ei circiter zequilonga fulta, flo- 
ribus plerumque ternis circ. poll. longis sessilibus singulo fascieulo 
bractea late ovata scariosa exteriore atque duabus tribusve interiori- 
bus persistentibus cum rachi breviter sericeo-tomentosis stipato, peri- 
gonio exteriore tomentoso tubuloso apice trilobo lobis ovatis acutis 
dimidium tubum superantibus, perigonii interioris tubo tenui tomen- 
tello lobis oblongis cucullatis dense tomentosis tertio paulo longiore 
et latiore, labello crispulo deltoideo sspe bifido basi processibus 2 
filiformibus lineam longis aucto, stamine labellum paulo superante, 
ovario dense hirsuto, stylo apice sensim dilatato paulo ultra antheram 
13-linealem immarginatam producto, stigmate cupulato piloso, glan- 
dulis epigynis parvis oblongis apice rotundatis integris, fructu pisi 
majoris mole globoso tomentoso pallide flavidulo inflato ecostato pe 
ricarpio crustaceo tenui fragili bracteis persistentibus fulto atque 
perigonio exteriore longo tubuloso rigido marcido coronato, seminibus 
5-6 mucoso-arillatis saturate cinereis plano-convexis plus minus an- 
gulatis rugulosis basi umbilico brunneo excavato conspicuo notatis ab 
ipso vertice secus faciem profunde suleatis. (Exzsicc. n. 1231.) 
This interesting plant, gathered by me (I believe, in the Happy- 
Valley woods) in June 1857, is represented in my herbarium by 
two flowering and one fruiting specimens, unfortunately the 
upper portion of the stems only and without rhizome. There is, 
however, I think, no doubt that it is an entirely new species, 
most closely allied to, though differing in many points from, 
Alpinia spicata, Roxb. (Fl. Ind. i. 70; Horaninow, Prod. Monog. 
Scitam. 34). The large, broadly ovate, scarious bracts give the 
spike a peculiar comose appearance. It has not to my knowledge 
been found elsewhere, nor been gathered in the island by any other 
collector. The seeds taste very pleasantly, like cardamoms, but 
with a flavour suggesting the addition of lemon-peel, and w ould 
certainly be worth cultivating for medicinal purposes. As, indeed, 
it is quite possible that they are collected for this purpose, though 
the plant differs from any of those described by Loureiro, or men- 
