August 25, 1915] 



Notes and DuscRiPTroNa of Zirgibkraceab 



2899 



Amomum pandanicarpum Elm. n. sp. 



Scattering tussocks; stems with a large bulb at the base, 

 the basal one third leafless, 4 cm thick, erect and rigid, 

 5 to 7 m high, somewhat reclining toward the top, gla- 

 brous. Leaves ascending from the base, otherwise recurved, 

 the larger ones 1 m long, 12 to 15 cm wide, short pet* 

 ioled, conduplicate on the upper deeper green surface, cu- 

 ring unequally brown on the upper and lower sides, rigidly 

 coriaceous, sides coarsely wavy and becoming lacerated, the 

 edges rugose and usually minutely ciliate, the nether yellow- 

 ish pale green side spotted with small lighter brown blisters, 

 apex acute or acuminate, base broadly cuneate, oblong, 

 broadest across the middle or below it, the leaflets reduced 

 and scattering toward the base, alternating, 10 to 18 cm 

 apart, stoutly petioled; sheath tightly clasping the stem t bough 

 becoming separated toward the throat, striate, the overlapped 

 portion glabrous, puberulent towards the ligule; ligule de- 

 current, the erect free portion 1 to 1.5 cm long, oblong 

 and obtusely rounded at the apex, yellowish gray pubescent 

 along the margins and toward the apex on the outside, 

 thick and striate, the inner side smooth, glahrous and pur- 

 plish; petiole 2 to 8 cm long, deeply channelled above, the 

 basal one half of the channel covered with a pubescent thin 

 caducous membrane, the dorsal side rounded, smooth and 

 glabrous; midrib very conspicuously raised beneath and 

 grooved along the upper side. Infrutescence arising from the 

 rootstocks, barely above ground, 8 to 11 cm long; peduncle 

 at least one half as long, provided with imbricating bracts, 

 pubescent in the younger state: bracts 2 to 3 em long, those 

 subtending the fruits 5 cm long, lanceolate or oblongtsh, 

 chartaceous, soft yellowish pubescent but becoming glabrate 

 toward the striate apical portion; heads Bubglobose, hard, 

 7 to 12 cm in diameter; fruits angularly obovoid, •'! cm 

 long, at least 2 cm thick above the middle, obscurely ridged 

 toward the irregularly rugose apical rim, in the dry state 

 short yellowish canescent, surrounded by linear persistent 

 bracts ex ding them, sessile or nearly so, the pericarp- 

 tough and deep purple on the inside, apparently 8-celled; 



