668 PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA, Musa, 
veins ; from five to ten feet long, and from two to three broad, 
Petioles about two feet long; those of the lower leaves have 
their bases broad and embrace the stem ; while those near the 
inflorescence have long, stem-clasping sheaths, like those of 
the plantain and banana; semi-cylindric on the under side, 
and deeply channelled on the upper one. Spadia terminal, 
simple, drooping, before any of the spathes expand, cordate, 
Spathes numerous, expanding in succession, broad-cordate, 
slightly ribbed, smooth, ferruginous, many-flowered, perma- 
nent, and not becoming revolute. /owers numerous, from 
twenty to thirty in a double series to each spathe ; the female- 
hermaphrodite ones occupy the bases, or lower spathes; and 
the male-hermaphrodite oes the superior. Perianth none, 
Corol ; petals two, very unequal, Exterior petal involving 
the inner one like a spathe, leathery, three-parted ; the linear 
~ divisions often adhering by their margins; soon after expan- 
sion they become twisted into one body. Inner petal five or 
‘six times shorter than the exterior one, pale-coloured, almost 
pellucid, and composed of two sub-rotund lobes with an en- 
siform process between them ; from the inside of the insertion 
of this petal a very large quantity of transparent jelly is dis- 
charged. Nectary two filiform scales inserted over the two 
fissures of the exterior petal. Thus far the male and female- 
hermaphrodite flowers agree. Filaments five, with the rudi- | 
ment of a sixth on the under side, Anthers in the male-her-. 
naphrodite flower longer and thicker than the filaments. In. 
1¢ female-] phrodite they are wanting, or only small, 
black, withered points. Germ beneath. In the female-her- 
maphrodite flower large, three-celled, and fertile ; inthe male 
one small, and barren. Style linear, thick, and fleshy, In the 
female-hermaphrodite flower twice as long as its barren sta- 
mens, In the male-hermaphrodite one only half the length of 
Os: fertile stamens. Stigma in both somewhat three-grooved,, 
