Tab. 5386. 



ASPIDISTRA, punctata: alho-macnlata. 



Dotted-flowered Aspidistra ; spotted-leaved var. 



Nat. Orel. AspiDisTEEiE. — Octandria Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Flores hermaphroditi, solitarii. Perigonvam corollinum, campa- 

 nulatum, 6-8-fidum ; laciniis patentibus. Stamina 6-8, perigonii tubo inserta ; 

 filamenta adnata ; anlherne dorso affixae. Ovarium minimum, subcylindricum, 

 3-4-loculare. Ooula in loculis 2, superposita, amphitropa. Stylus ovario con- 

 tinuus, brevis, crassus ; stigma discoideum, maximum, radiato-triquadrilobum, 

 perigonii f'aucem recludens. Fructus . . . . — Herbse acaitles, glabra, in China 

 australi ei Japonia observatce ; rhizomate annulato, sobolifero ; folds snbbifariis 

 solitariisve, petiolatis, vaginalis, oblongo-lanceolatis, nervoso-str iatis ; peduneulis 

 radicalibus unifloris, squamoso-bracteatis ; floribus sordide purpureis. Endl. 



Aspidistra punctata ; rhizomate crasso annulato esquamoso, folds pedalibus et 

 ultra longe petiolatis junioribus vaginato-bracteatis, scapis brevibus brac- 

 teatis, bracteis (sa?pe) periantbioque octo-lobato pallide viridibus minute 

 purpureo-punctatis. 



Aspidistra punctata. Lindl. Bot. Reg. t. 977. Kth. En. Plant, v. 5. p. 312. 



Var. (3. folds albo-maculatis. (Tab. Nostr. 5386.) 



The flowers of the genus Aspidistra are very curious in struc- 

 ture. The present species is a native of China, but hitherto 

 only known from Dr. Lindley's figure, above quoted. The va- 

 riety here represented is peculiar, from the size of the leaves, 

 and from being copiously spotted with pure white. We are in- 

 debted for the opportunity of figuring it to Mr. Bull, of Chelsea. 

 It probably requires the protection of a greenhouse. It flowers 

 in February. 



Descr. Mliizome elongated, annulated, thick, creeping, of a 

 pale-grey colour, and in our sample, at least, destitute of scales. 

 Petiole three to four inches long, deep-channelled on one side. 

 Leaf a foot long, broad, oblong-lanceolate, acuminated, striated 

 with veins, which are distinct and wide apart, and further strio- 

 lated with much closer, parallel, and much less distinct lines ; in 



june 1st, 1863. 



