Tas, 6124, 
TACCA ARTOCARPIFOLIA. 
Native of Madagascar and Johanna. 
Nat. Ord, Taccacez, 
Genus Tacca, Forst. ; (Endl. Gen. Pl., vol. i. p- 159). 
Tacca artocarpifolia; elata, foliis amplis trisectis, segmentis petiolulatis 
1}—2 pedalibus pinnatifidis, laciniis pedalibus 1—1} poll. latis sensim acu- 
minatis, scapo elongato, involucro §—7-phyllo, foliolis 4-8-pollicaribus 
caudato-acuminatis exterioribus deflexis angustioribus, interioribus: 
laterioribus conniventibus erectis elliptico-lanceolatis, omnibus inte- 
gerrimis v. exteriore 3-fido, pedicellis sterilibus pedalibus filiformibus, 
ovario turbinato alte 6-carinato, perianthio globoso, 
Tacca artocarpifolia, Seemann Flor. Vit., p. 101, in note. 
This very remarkable plant is a congener of the Afaccia 
cristata of this work (Tab. 4589), the genus dfaccia being 
now regarded as a synonym of Zacca, and of 7. integrifolia 
(Tab. 1488). It is a native of Madagascar and Johanna 
Islands, whence there are excellent specimens in the Hookerian 
Herbarium, from Mr. Justice Blackburn, Dr. Lyall, and 
W. 'T. Gerrard. Its nearest ally is the well known 7° pin- 
natifida, which, though one of the most widely cultivated and 
most useful plants in the Pacifie Islands, has never yet been 
figured in any English botanical work ; nor, as far as we know, 
ever been introduced into this country. The tubers of 7. pin- 
natifida afford the South-Sea arrowroot, said to be the best of 
all in cases of dysentery, and its starch is a favourite article 
of diet in the shape of puddings and cakes. 
The 7. artocarpifolia has a tuberous root, and is, no doubt, 
as full of starch and as wholesome as 7 pinnatifida. It 
flowered in the Royal Gardens in May of the present year, 
from roots received from Mr. Wilson Saunders in 1872. 
Descr. Root tuberous. Leaves about three ; petiole two 
feet long, stout, erect, cylindric, nearly as thick as a goose- 
quill, brown; base curved with thick sheathing wings ; 
blade two to three feet in diameter, trisect ; segments stalked, 
OCTOBER Ist, 1874. 
