by one of the Kew collectors in Japan, Mr. Oldham or 
Wilford. As an ornamental plant it has perhaps no rival 
for vigour of growth and rapid multiplication by the root, 
which last quality has its drawbacks, for it spreads widely, 
and obtrudes itself where not wanted, to the destruction of 
its neighbours. Like its allies already alluded to, it flowers 
late in September and October. 
Desor. Roots with numerous strong underground suckers. 
Stems six to eight feet high, very numerous from the roots, 
erect and drooping above, leafy, hollow, as thick as the 
thumb at the base, red-brown, angular, grooved. Leaves 
six to eighteen inches long by three to ten broad, oblong or 
ovate with atruncate or cordate base, acute or acuminate, 
sometimes undulate at the margins, bright green above, 
glaucous beneath with a white sparsely hairy midrib and 
reticulated veins; sheathing stipules elongate, glabrous, 
membranous, deciduous; petiole one to three inches long. 
Inflorescences of short racemes in a crowded sessile panicle 
in the axils of the leaves and terminal, equalling or twice 
the length of the petiole, branches and rachis of the panicle 
tomentose. flowers densely crowded, pale yellow-green, 
about one-tenth of an inch in diameter (polygamous ?) ; 
pedicels short, capillary, jointed below the middle; bracts 
ovate, acuminate. Fruiting perianth one-third of an inch 
long, obcordate, three-winged, narrowed into the pedicel, 
wings not veined. Stigmas short, sessile, recurved.— 
Fede HT. : 
Fig. 1, section of female flower ; 2, ovary; 3, ovule:—all enlarged. 
Ket 
