342 The Philippine Journal of Science 1921 
Retz. (which has strongly tessellated fruits) and to S. elata 
Thwaites (which also has tessellated fruits), while Burman 
described the fruits as “laevibus” and as “splendentia saepe 
nigricantibus.” Burman’s specific name is valid in Scleria and 
eventually should probably be taken up for some well-known 
Malayan species of the genus now appearing in literature under 
some other specific name. The word “ilad” is a Javanese name 
for various species of Scleria. 
ARACEAE 
RHAPHIDOPHORA Hasskarl 
RHAPHIDOPHORA LACINIATA (Burm. f.) comb. nov. 
Polypodium lactniatum Burm. f. Fl. Ind. (1768) 231. “Habitat in 
Java & Malabara.” 
Pothos pertusus Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1 (1820) 455. 
Rhaphidophora pertusa Schott in Bonpl. 5 (1857) 45; Engl. & Krause 
in Engl. Pflanzenreich 37 (1908) 47. 
Burman states regarding his Javan specimen, for which he 
cites the local names kakajar and tally kassa, that the leaves 
lacked the perforations, but these are by no means constant in 
this species. From Burman’s reference to Elettadi maravara 
Rheede Hort. Malabar. 12: 41, t. 20, 21, it is clear that his species 
is a Khaphidophora, identical with the species commonly known 
as R. pertusa (Roxb.) Schott, which extends from India to Java. 
Burman’s specific name, being much the older, should be adopted. 
COMMELINACEAE 
COMMELINA Plumier 
COMMELINA PAPILIONACEA Burm. f. Fl. Ind. (1768) 17 ft. 7, f. 1. 
“Habitat Coromandeli.” 
Commelina salicifolia Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1 (1820) 176. 
Burman’s species is clearly identical with the one later de- 
scribed by Roxburgh as Commelina salicifolia and, although it 
is not mentioned by C. B. Clarke in his monograph of the Com- 
melinaceae * his specific name should be retained for the species. 
COMMELINA NUDIFLORA Linn. Sp. Pl. (1758) 41. 
Commelina diffusa Burm. f. Fl. Ind. (1768) 18; 4: 7, f. 2. “Habitat 
Coromandeli.” 
Burman’s species is clearly a form of the ubiquitous Com- 
melina nudiflora Linn., where it was placed as a synonym by C. 
B. Clarke. 
* DC. Monog. Phan. 3 (1881) 113-324. 
