ON DISCHIDIA WITH DOUBLE PITCHERS. 375 
On some Species of Dischidia with Double Pitchers. By H. H. 
W. Pearson, M.A., F.L.S., Assistant, Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew ; formerly Frank Smart Student of Botany, 
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. 
[Read 5th June, 1902.] 
(Puate 9.) 
INTRODUCTION. 
In his account of the Asclepiadacee of British India, Sir J oseph 
Hooker quotes * Griffith’s description of Dischidia complex, 
a Malacca species which is represented in the Kew Herbarium 
by a single imperfect specimen. In this description reference 
is made to the remarkable double pitchers which the plant 
possesses. Although first noticed almost 50 years ago, no 
investigator has taken them in hand, and all that we know about 
them is contained in Griffith’s rather meagre note. Sir William 
Thiselton-Dyer therefore suggested that I should study the 
morphology of these curious organs, and endeavour to elucidate 
their bearing upon the mode of life of the plant. 
Griffith’s original account occurs in his ‘ Notule ad Plantas 
Asiaticas’ (part iv. p. 50), and the complete description of the 
pitchers as it there appears may be reproduced. It is as 
follows :—“ These ascidia are very complete (? complex), pre- 
senting a rather small orifice near the petiole, the outer margin 
of this orifice being inflexed and formed into a second pitcher 
much smaller than the outer one, opening on each side by an 
oblique aperture, deeply lobed or furrowed on the upper, carinate 
on the lower side. A transverse section makes it very reniform. 
The cavity of the outer pitcher [is] crammed with radicles, the 
inner surfaces of both [being] lurid purple with inconspicuous 
white spots.” 
On looking through the specimens of the genus Dischidia 
in the Kew Herbarium, I found three other species possessing 
double pitchers very similar to those of D. complex. Of these 
also the material available was entirely in the dried condition. 
* Flora of British India,’ vol. iv. p. 51. 
