Tas. 8154. 
PODOPHYLLUM versirrnne. 
China. 
BERBERIDACEAE. Tribe BERBEREAE. 
PopopnytiuM, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 45. 
Podophyllum versipelle, Hance in Journ. Bot. vol. xxi. (1883) 362; Hemsl. 
in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xxiii. p. 33; Hook. Ic. Plant. vol. xx. (1891), 
t. 1996; affinis P. pleiantho, Hance, sed foliis altius lobatis et floribus 
minoribus differt. 
Rhizoma perennis. Cauwles annui, erecti, glabri, pallide virides. Folia 
caulina 2, inferius longe, superius breviter centrice vel subcentrice 
peltato-petiolata, superius inflorescentiam terminalem et sessilem superans, 
ambitu orbicularia, plus minus profunde 5-9-lobata, usque ad 25 em. 
diametro, supra glabra, subtus parce pilosa, nervis supra impressis 
subtus leviter prominulis, lobis ovatis vel ovato-oblongis vel interdum 
leviter trilobatis circ. 10 cm. longis et 8 cm. latis, marginibus subulato- 
denticulatis. Cymae umbelliformes, sessiles, saepius 8-florae. Pedicelli 
penduli, usque ad 5 cm. longi, apice leviter incrassati, glabri vel breviter 
pilosi. Flores saturate coccinei. Sepala 6, oblongo-elliptica, 1°5 em. 
longa, ‘7 cm. lata, obtusa, extus breviter pilosa, intus glabra. Petala 6, 
oblongo-elliptica, 2-2°5 cm. longa, *75-1 cm. lata, obtusa, utrinque glabra. 
Stamina 6; filamenta complanata, 7 cm. longa, glabra; antherae circiter 
1 em. longae, connectivo incrassato apice obtuso. Ovarium ellipsoideum, 
glabrum; stvlus brevis, stigmate magno peltato coronatus. Ovula 
indefinita. Jructus ignotus. 
The genus Podophyllum consists of at least six species, 
five of which are in cultivation. One of these, P. pelta- 
tum, is a native of North America, whilst the remainder 
are found in India, China, and the island of Formosa. 
They are all sufficiently hardy to be grown in the open 
at Kew, but P. pleianthum, a native of Formosa, suc- 
ceeds better when afforded a little protection from frost. 
P. versipelle somewhat resembles this species, the flowers 
being more hidden from view by the uppermost leaf. The 
plant from which our illustration was prepared was pre- 
sented to Kew in 1903 by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, who 
introduced this species into cultivation through their col- 
lector, Mr. E. H. Wilson. It is found in the woods and 
ravines of Western China. P. peltatum (B. M. t. 1819), 
has been in cultivation for a very long period ; as early as 
1664, according to Evelyn, ‘* Kalendarium,” 164, p. 67, as 
Anapodophylinm. It has white flowers, and is commonly 
SepremMBeER Ist, 1907. ‘ 
