levis, Roxb., from “ Silhet Gualpara, and Chappedong (Wall.) 
and Assam, is easily recognized by the four sessile uniform 
leaves of the involucre, and small and slender habit. 7Zucca 
lanceafolia, Loll. (Ataccia, Kth.), is probably a variety of the 
latter.—All these are Indian : but I possess another and distinct 
species from Demerara, South America, with a creeping rhizoma! 
There are few more remarkable-looking plants in cultivation than 
our Afaccia cristata. 
Dzscr. Root a few coarse fibres, issuing from a short, under- 
ground, conical, descending caudex or rhizoma, marked with the 
rings or scars of fallen leaves, and here and there throwing out 
small tubers or gemmz. eaves three or four, all from this 
short caudex. Petioles semiterete, smooth: the dade oblong, 
acuminate, dark purple-green, penninerved, nerves mostly pro- 
minent beneath. Scape about as long as the leaves, erect, stout, 
angled, dark purple, smooth: terminated by a large, dark-purple, 
four-leaved, membranaceous involucre : the two outer leaflets op- 
posite, sessile, ovato-acuminate, striated, patent, two inner placed 
side by side, erect, very large, greenish, striated, reticulated, 
edged with purple ; the shape broadly ovate, acute, but tapering 
into a long, narrow, deep purple base. Peduacles numerous, 
dark purple, about two inches long, terminated each by a single 
flower, and forming a drooping unilateral wmdel: these floral 
peduncles are accompanied by several (external) long, tapering, 
filiform sterile ones, six inches long, which spread out in their 
lower portion, while the rest of the tendril-like peduncle droops. 
Perianth dark purple: the fube turbinate, six-angled, for the 
greater part united with the ovary ; the Zim sexpartite, suddenly 
reflexed ; the segments or lobes in two series, outer smaller, the 
inner larger, all ovato-rotundate, acute, striated, the rim of the 
mouth forming a crenated ring. Stamens six, within the mouth 
of the tube : filament broad, the margin lamellate and _plaited, 
the back cohering with the perianth ; anther cucullate, two-celled : 
pollen globose. Ovary adherent with the calyx-tube, one-celled, 
having three longitudinal, furrowed, parietal placentae, bearing 
several ovules. Style short, conical, six-furrowed. Stigma of 
three, broad obcordate, green, reflexed, plaited lobes; the edges 
of the plaits ciliated. W. J. H. 
Curr. This singular tropical plant is of easy cultivation. It 
grows and flowers freely in a moist, warm stove. A mixture of 
light loam and peat-soil suits it, and, being a native of moist 
places, it requires a copious supply of water. It increases freely 
by offsets, which are produced from the sides of the erect 
rhizome-like caudex ; these offsets, when separated, root readily 
in small pots placed in a close moist atmosphere. J. 8. 
Fig. 1. Section of a flower. 2. Portion of the perianth bearing a stamen. 
3. Style and stigma :— magnified. 
