cordate with a deep sinus which is often closed, obtuse or 
acute, rather coriaceous, above glabrous and_bullately 
reticulate by the sunk nerves and nervules, metallic green, 
under-surface paler, with papillose nerves and nervules ; 
midrib stout; basal nerves seven, spreading from the top 
of the petiole, lateral nerves from the midrib six to nine 
pairs, arching; petiole usually shorter than the blade, very 
stout, six- to seven-angled and winged, wings undulate or 
crisped. Peduncles much longer than the petioles, winged 
like these, stout, erect. Spathe six inches long, lanceolate 
from a rounded base, acuminate, reflexed, flat, white with 
red edges, faintly rose-coloured when first opened. Spadiz 
erect, on a very short stout stalk, five to nine inches long 
by one-third of an inch in diameter, cylindric, obtuse, 
green, then yellow, and finally brick-red. Flowers densely 
crowded, depressed, together presenting a flat surface. 
Perianth-segments four, short, thick, five-angled, broadly 
truncate. Stamens four, included, filaments very broad and 
thick ; anthers small, two-celled, with vertical slits. Ovary 
very shortly columnar, cylindric, top rounded, stigma 
obscure, cells two. Ovules one in each cell, sigmoid, 
attached by a broad ventral funicle to the septum.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1, Reduced view of whole plant; 2, leaf; 3, flowering peduncles, both. of 
the natural size; 4 and 5, flowers; 6 and 7, stamens; 8, ovary ; 9, vertical section 
of ditto; 10 and 11, transverse section of ditto; 11, ovules:—all enlarged. 
