Tas. 8567. 
CYRTOSPERMA JonnstTont. 
Solomon Islands. 
AROIDEAE. Tribe ORONTIEAE. 
Cyrtosrerma, Griff.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen, Plant. vol. iii. p. 997. 
Cyrtosperma Johnstoni, N. E. Br. in Gard. Chron. 1882, vol. xviii. p. 808; 
Engl. Pflanzenr. vol. iv. 280, p. 19; species C. eduli, Schott, affinis sed 
petiolis pedunculisque conspicue aculeatis et spatha multo minore apte 
distinguenda. 
Herba usque ad 1 m. alta, ubique glabra. Foliorwm petioli 0°45-1 m. longi, basi 
vaginati, spinis in fasciculos spiraliter dispositos armati, sordide rubro vel 
rubro-brunneo et atro-fusco irregulariter zonato-marmorati; laminae 
triangulari-sagittatae, supra virides, venis rubris, subtus sordide purpuras- 
centes, lobo antico 18-28 cm. longo 18-30 cm. lato ad insertionem petioli, 
lobis posticis late divergentibus 23-36 cm. longis medio 8°5-15 cm. latis 
suboblique lanceolatis acuminatis, costis posticis in sinu ad 3-5 cm. 
denudatis. Pedunculi teretes, aculeati, petiolis similes. Spatha erecta, 
15 cm. longa, 2°5 cm. lata, oblonga, longe acuminata, valde concava, 
marginibus incurvis, extra nigro-violacea, leviter nitida, intra sordide albo- 
virens leviter roseo-tincta, basi purpureo-rosea. Spadix brevissime nigro- 
_ stipitatus, 8°5 cm. longus, 12 mm. crassus, cylindricus, obtusus, primum 
virescens, demum pallide violaceus. Sepala et stamina 5-6. Ovariwm 
oblongum, uniloculare, stigmate sessile coronatum ; ovula 2.—Alocasia 
Johnstoni, Bull, Cat. 1878, p. 154.—N. E. Brown. 
The very ornamental Aroid here figured is a native of 
the Solomon Islands whence it was first introduced to 
European collections by the late Mr. William Bull, 
Chelsea. It was distributed from his establishment as 
Alocasia Johnstoni, this name first appearing in his Cata- 
logue for the season 1878. The spiny petioles and. 
peduncles, red-veined, arrow-shaped leaves, and blackish- 
violet spathes provide a combination of characters not 
met with in any other Aroid and impart to the species a 
distinction which has rendered it a favourite stove plant. 
It grows well in any tropical house, preferring a rich 
loamy soil with abundant water, except in winter when 
the plant is at rest. The material for our illustration 
has been obtained from an unusually vigorous plant, 
grown under the moist tropical conditions atiorded in the 
Nepenthes House at Kew, which flowered early in 
August, 1913. At present Cyrtosperma Johnston: appears 
Aveust, 1914, 
