Tas. 5765. 
RICHARDIA MELANOLEUCA. 
Black-throated Richardia. 
Nat. Ord, AROIDEZ.—Monaec1a Monanpria. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 5140.) 
Ricwarp1a melanoleuca ; scapo petiolisque inferne pilis rigidiusculis sparsis, 
foliis hastato-ovatis acuminatis maculis oblongis translucidis albis nota-_ 
tis, auriculis obtusis; spatha pallide straminea a basi aperta recurva 
marginibus revolutis, intus basi plaga ampla atro-purpurea notata, spa- 
dice brevi. 
This belongs to a remarkable group of African Richardius, 
distinguished by the often white transparent spots on the 
foliage, and cream-coloured flowers, to which belong the 2. a/bo- 
maculata (Tab. nost. 5140) and R. hastata (Tab. nost. 5176). 
From both these the present plant appears to be well dis- 
tinguished by its spathe being open to the very base, thus 
exposing the dark-black purple spot at its base, which is only 
seen in the other species by everting the spathe: whether this 
is asufficient distinctive character cannot be determined with- 
out more specimens of these plants than are at present in cul- 
tivation. In other respects they present no difference of 
consequence. f. melanoleuca was imported by Mr. Bull, of 
Chelsea, from Africa, and was flowered in his establishment in | 
the autumn of 1868. Like its congeners it is no doubt a 
greenhouse plant, and may be cultivated out of doors in the 
warmest parts of England. 
Duscr. Plant, two feet high. Habit and appearance of 
ft. albo-maculata : lower part of petioles and scape bearing a 
few Spreading stiff bristly hairs. Leaf six to nine inches 
long, exclusive of the petiole; oblong, or ovate-hastate, acu- 
minate with a filiform point; basal lobes spreading, obtuse, 
base deeply cordate ; substance membranous, dark green, with 
many oblong translucent spots following the direction of the 
APRIL Ist, 1869. 
