date, deeply two-lobed at the base, the lobes rounded and over- 
lapping, quite entire, succulent, five-nerved, upper surface 
opaque, dull green, marbled with white, under pale green. 
Spikes single or two to three together, erect, slender, four to 
six inches long, on stout, erect peduncles, about one-sixth of 
an inch diameter. Flowers in rather close spirals, but not 
crowded. Bracts peltate, summit orbicular, pedicel clavate. 
Stamens short; anther two-celled. Ovary papillose, broadly 
obovoid, oblique ; stigma nearly terminal, discoid, with fim- 
briate edges.—J. D. H. 
Fig. 1. Portion ot amerntum, with flower. 2 and 8. Side and front view 
of scale, stamens, and ovary :—all magnified. 
