on the midrib; nerves 7-9 on each side, oblique; petioie 
3-4 in. long, glabrous. Panicle terminal, with a glabrous 
peduncle 2-6 in. long, and usually 3-4 glabrous branches, 
the two lower approximate, the others scattered, 1-2} in. 
long, each in the axil of a leafy bract 1 in. long, and cach 
supporting a 3—l-flowered cyme. Sterile flowers very few, 
ou slender pedicels over | in. long, with 3-4 bluish rounded 
persistent sepals, ultimately over § in. wide. Lertile flowers 
showy, nodding, on stouter pedicels 3 in. long. Receptacle 
shortly wide turbinate, glabrous. Sepals 5, ovate-rotund, 
obtuse, 2-3 lin. long, persistent and slightly enlarged when 
mature, glabrous and bluish or reddish like the receptacle. 
Petals 6-8, bright blue, rounded, concave, 5—7 lin. wide. 
Stamens very many, with blue filaments and bluish anthers. 
Styles united in a column 23-3 lin. long; stigmas short, 
connivent. Capsule nodding, subglobose below, 24 lin. 
long, tipped by the columnar style. 
Figs. 1-3, stamens; 4, stigmas; 5, section of ovary :-—all enlarged. 
