is obliquely plaited, and striated by the parallel nerves. Petiole 
about one-half the length of the leaf, below dilated into a large, 
concave, sheathing base, which gives a swollen appearance to the 
part of the stem occupied by the leaves. From the axil of the 
leaves the peduncle appears, a foot long, enclosed in three or 
four cylindrical close-pressed spathas, from which emerges a cy- 
lindrical spadiz, nearly as long as the peduncle, tapering a little 
at the base and towards the point, thick, fleshy, at first green 
and then studded with the red bead-like flowers, afterwards the 
_ spadix becomes bright coral-red, and then marked with the black 
scars of the withered flowers. /V/owers, in bud quite sunk in 
distant cavities on the spadix, solitary, are spirally arranged. 
Calyx white, waxy, forming a three-lobed cup, of a totally dif- 
. ferent nature from the petals or inner sepals. Coro//a of three, 
cymbiform, orange-red petals, which connive over the pistil. 
Ovary subrotund, obscurely three-lobed. Style none. Stigmas 
three, short, spreading. ‘There is no trace of stamens or rudi- 
ments of stamens in our flowers. 
Fig. 1. Female flower. 2. Pistil:—magnified. 3. Small spadix in its green 
state, studded with the scarlet female flowers :—zat. size. 
