named Rafflesia. 



The first communication from my friend Mr. Jack consisted of 

 a description of recent riower-buds, at that time regarded by him 

 as hermaphrodite, but which he has since ascertained to be male. 

 It is unnecessary to introduce this description here, as if essen- 

 tially agrees with that already given, and may also be consi- 

 dered as superseded by the important information contained in 

 the following letter, which I have more recently received from 

 the same accurate botanist. 



" My DEAR SlR, "Bencoolcn, June 2, 1S20. 



" Since I wrote you last I have ascertained several particulars 

 respecting the Gigantic Flower of Sumatra, additional to those 



contained in the account forwarded by Sir Stamford Raffles to 

 Mr. Marsden, and by him communicated to you, which it may 

 be interesting to you to know. 



" Numerous specimens, in every stage of growth, have been 

 sent from various parts of the country, which have enabled me 

 to ascertain and confirm every essential point. The first and most 

 unexpected discovery is, that it has no stem of its own, but is 

 parasitic on the roots and stems of a ligneous species of Cissus 

 with ternate and quinate leaves : I have not ascertained the spe- 

 cies*. It appears to take its origin in some crack or hollow of 

 the stem, and soon shows itself in the form of a round knob, 

 which, when cut through, exhibits the infant flower enveloped in 

 numerous bracteal sheaths, which successively open and wither 

 away as the flower enlarges, until, at the time of full expansion, 

 there are but a very few remaining, which have somewhat the 

 appearance of a broken calyx. The flowers I find to be unisexual, 

 which I did not before suspect, and consequently dicecious. 

 The male I have already described. The female differs very 



* jNI r. Jack has since determined it to be Cissus angustifolia of Roxburgh. Fl. Ltd. i. 



little 



