802 DIOECIA HEXANDRIA, Dioscorea. 
twining, columnar, smooth, Leaves profoundly broad-cor- 
date, subulate, pointed, from nine to eleven-nerved, smooth, 
Female spikes axillary, crowded, penduleus, 
A native of Chittagong, and so exactly like the follow- 
ing’, crispata, as to be distinguished from it only by its per- 
fectly smooth, polished, columnar stem and branches, which 
are perfectly free from every appearance of even an angle or 
rib, Flowering time in the Botanic garden, the close of the 
rainy season. 
9. D. crispata, R. ; 
~Tubers roundish. Stems annual, twining, round, from 
ten to fifteen-winged; wings curled. Leaves alternate, 
broad-cordate, Female spikes pendulous; male panicled. 
A large, elegant species, a native of the interior of Bengal, 
and introduced by Dr. Carey into the Botanic garden in 
1798, where it blossoms during the rainy season, 7 
Root tuberous, and small for the great size of the plant, 
with numerous, ramous, slender fibres issuing from every 
part thereof, Like potatoes the old roots perish when the new 
ones are produced, and may be called biennial. Aaillary 
tubers, bulbs they are often called, are in this species, both 
numerous and large, and are proper sets to rear plants 
from, Stems annual, twining, unarmed, round, thick, many 
fathoms in length, beautifully ornamented with from 
ten to fifteen parallel, curled wings, otherwise the whole 
is perfectly smooth. Leaves alternate, petioled, broad-cor- 
date, subulate, pointed, from seven to eleven-nerved, with 
numerous, parallel, anastomosing veins on both sides, from 
three to™ine inches each way, Petioles shorter than the 
leaves, ortignented with parallel, curled wings, like the 
stems, FEMALE. Spikes axillary, crowded, perfectly pen- 
dulous. Bractes in pairs, unequal, one-flowered, Flowers 
alternate, rather remote, small. Petals or leaflets of the 
calyx six, linear, smooth, white. Stamina, six erect, short, 
emarginate, abortive glands. “The capsule has never come to 
spec in this garden, : 
