racemes. Pedicels short, jointed a little below the flower, and 
there deciduous. Perianth of six, erect, imbricated, concave, 
broad-ovate sepa/s, of a greenish colour, .streaked with red at the 
apex, each enclosing an abortive stamen, shorter than the sepal. 
Ovary (abortive) larger than the sepals, orbicular-oval, with 
three thick but wing-like angles, and crowned with a deeply 
_ three-parted style. Stigmas triangular. Cell solitary, with three 
4 erect ovules. 
Fig. 1. Entire plant, much reduced in size. 2. Small portion of a female 
flower-spike, nat. size. 8. Apex of a leaf, nat. size. 4. Portion of a leaf, nat. 
size. 5. Female flower. 6. Sepal, including the abortive stamen. 7. Trans-' 
verse section of an ovary :—fig. 5 and 7 magnified. 
