PET 
145 
Has. In India orientali; apud montes Maduræ. Koenig.— 
Wight, M. D. 
The very remarkable and beautiful grass here figured, was 
sent to me by Dr. Wight, in one of his many valuable com- 
munications, from the East Indies. It was marked, “ the 
most curious of an interesting and extensive natural family. 
The accompanying specimens were gathered by Koenig. I 
also found the same plant, but do not at present recollect the 
habitat. I think it was in the mountainous parts of the 
Madura district.” When I came to examine these speci- 
mens, with the view to their publication, I was mortified to 
find that those most singular flowers, which so much re- 
sembled birds' heads, contained nothing within them ; except, 
in some instances, a small body, which may perhaps be con- 
sidered the abortive organs of the flower, and in one, where 
I saw feathery stigmas, but less distinctly than I could wish. 
I consulted Dr. Wallich, wishing to know if he had speci- 
mens of the grass in his immense herbarium, and whether, if 
it should prove new, it might not with propriety bear the 
name of our mutual friend, Dr. Wight. In reply to the 
former question, I had the satisfaction to learn that in Dr. 
Wight’s department of the East India Company's herbarium, 
there existed very fine specimens of this grass, which, 
with the other Gramineae, were confided to Mr. Brown's 
care, for examination and publication. They afforded 
individuals with seed, which were obligingly forwarded 
to me, together with the opinion, both of Mr. Brown and 
Dr, Wallich, that the genus was altogether new. I had 
the farther gratification to learn, that a noble East Indian 
plant, of the Nat. Ord, Bignoniacee,* had just been dedicated 
to Dr. Wight by Dr. Wallich, who kindly suggested to me 
that the grass in question might bear the name of his late 
friend and preceptor, Mr. Holboel,+ who was gardener at 
* See the Plante Asiatice Rariores, t. 81. 
t The former Holboellia of Wallich, is now ascertained to be a species of 
ia; its affinity to which was alluded to, when it was published in the 
Tentamen Flore Nepalensis Illustrate, Fasc. 1. p. 93. ‘* Genus," says Dr. 
VOL. II. L 
