Tabs 7617: 
MYRMECODIA Anvornit. 
Native of Torres Straits. 
Nat. Ord. Rusracez.—Tribe PsycHoTRIER. 
Genus Myrmecopia, Jack.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vot. u. p. 132.) 
Myrmecopia Anfoinii; tubere subgloboso ecostato sublacunoso spinulis 
brevibus simplicibus pungentibus aspero, caule robusto simplici v. 
ramoso tetragono regulariter clypeolato, clypeolis 4 poll. diam. seriebus 
4 superpositis imbricatis orbiculatis bidentatis ambitu dense pectinatim © 
spinulosis, foliis elliptico-ovatis oblongis v. obovatis acutis in petiolum 
lamina ter quaterve breviorem angustato, floribus 4 poll. longis rimis inter- 
cly peolaribus sessilibus albis, calycis tubo tereti, limbo truncato obscure 
4-dentato, corolle tubo calyce ter longiore intus 4-costato et infra 
medium annulo pilorum instructo, lobis 4 oblongis, staminibus ore corolla 
insertis, filamentis brevibus crassis, antheris ovatis, stylo gracili, stigmate 
infundibulari truncato crenulato. 
M." Antoinii, Beecari, Malesia, vol. ii. p. 116, t. xix. figs. 2-4, 
M. echinata, Antoine in Bot. Zeitschr. vol. xxxii. (1882) p. 347, cum Te. 
F. Muell. Fragment. Fl. Austral. vol. vii. p. 45; Syst. Census of Austrat. 
Pl. vol. i. p. 75? non Gaud. 
Under M. Beccarii, figured at t. 68838 of this work, 
mention is made of two other species, natives of Torres 
Straits, one of which is the subject of the accompanying 
plate. It is a much more remarkable plant than M. 
Beccarii, on account of the size of the tuber, the stoutness 
of the stem, and the linear arrangement in four ranks of 
the very remarkable scutelliform spinulose persistent 
stipular organs, which almost conceal the stem. It was 
at first described as M. echinata, Gaudichaud, of the 
Islands of Rawak and Wagiou; but that species has 
ribbed tubers, and Jarger leaves with much longer 
petioles. 
The first specimen of this singular plant imported into 
Europe was obtained from Thursday Island, Torres 
Straits, by Dr. Moskovicz of Batavia, who gave it to the late 
Ferd. Ritter von Hochstetter. The latter gentleman sent 
it to Vienna, where it was described by Antoine as cited 
above. The magnificent specimen here figured was pre- 
Fesrvary Ist, 1897. 
