8 CXXXI. HYDROCHARIDEZ (WRIGHT). | Boottia. 
Stamens 6-12; anthers erect, oblong. Pistil rudimentary. Calyx and 
corolla similar to those of the male. Staminodes small. Ovary 
produced into a thick beak, more or less perfectly divided into 6 cells 
by the intrusion of the placentas; styles 6-15, linear-filiform, 2-fid ; 
ovules many.—Aquatic herbs with the habit of Ottelia. Spathe with 
the two lateral ribs prominent. 
Species about 8, extending to Burmah, 
Male flowers exserted from spathe. 
Leaves 5-nerved : S : : : s i ~ L D. ezsta: 
Leaves 9-nerved . : : : ‘ ; . 2. B. Fischeri. 
Male flowers enclosed in spathe. 
Scape and spathe rough . : : i : : . 3. B. scabra. 
Scape and spathe smooth. 
Leaves ligulate : : : : : . 4. B. crassifolia. 
Leaves lanceolate : : : ; : . 5. B. abyssinica. 
Leaves broadly ovate 6. B. macrantha. 
1. B. exserta, Ridl. in Journ. Linn Soc. xxii. 240, pl. 13. Rhizome 
very short. Leaves ovate-elliptical, obtuse, 5-nerved, coriaceous, 24-5 in. 
long, 13-2 in. wide ; petiole 9 in. long. Scape not exceeding 10 in. in 
length. Spathe narrow, 1—2 in. long, subcylindrical, scarcely dilated at 
the apex, trifid, one side being more deeply cut. Male flowers about 6, 
exserted from the spathe. Sepals thin, much shorter than the petals. 
Petals ovate, obtuse, yellow shading into white near the apex. Female 
flower solitary. Calyx-tube exserted from the spathe; lobes narrow, 
coriaceous, green, 7 lin. long. 
Mozamb. Dist. Portuguese East Africa: Shire River, a few miles above 
Shamo, Kirk! Quilimane, Scott ! 
A specimen in Kew Herbarium, collected in Angola by Sir H. H. Johnston, may 
belong to this species. 
2. B. Fischeri, Giirke in Engl. Pfi. Ost-Afr. C. 95. Leaves 
ovate, obtuse, narrowed at the base into a thick petiole, fleshy, 
coriaceous, 9-nerved, crisped at the margin. Male spathe large, ovoid, 
very thick, glabrous, wingless, many-flowered, teeth very acute. Male 
fiowers exserted a long way from the spathe. Petals yellow. 
Nile Land. German East Africa: Ussukuma; Usiha, Fischer, 588. 
I have seen no specimen of this species, but it appears to be closely related to 
B. exserta, Ridl. 
3. B. scabra, Benth. £ Hook. f. Gen, Pl iii. 454. Leaves submerged, 
thin, oblanceolate, acute, 1}—2 ft. long, 2} in. wide; petiole 1 ft. long, 
expanded at the base into an amplexicaul sheath 1} in. wide. Scape 
2} ft. long, rough. Spathe ampulleform, rugose, 3 in. long, 1 in. wide, 
with 3 teeth, split lower on one side. Sepals lanceolate, 6-9 lin. long, 
smooth. Petals yellow.—Ridley in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxii. 239; 
Engl. E Ost-Afr. C. 95. Ottelia scabra, Baker in Trans. Linn. Soc. 
xox. Tol. 
Wile Land. Sides of the Nile, 12° N., Speke and Grant, 7703! 
Gazelle River, 
Schweinfurth, 1121! x iver 
