226 MR. THWAITES ON THE GENUS ANCISTROCLADUS. 



Frutices indici et zeylanici, soboliferi, scandentes ; ramis elongatis, teretibus ; ramulis brevibus, patentibus, 

 undnatis ; uncis circinatis, sub nodis ramulorum posilis, internodia terminantibus ; foliis lanceolatis, 

 utrinque angustatis, sessilibus, integerrimis, lavibus, penniveniis, dense reticulatis, in ramos distanti- 

 bus, ad ramulorum apices aggregatis, vernations convolutis ; inflorescentia axillari, racemosd ; racemis 

 plus minusve ramosis ; pedunculis angularibus paucifloris ; floribus alternis ; pedicellis brevissimis, 

 rachi articulatis ; bracteis minutissimis. 



The Ancistrocladus Vahlii, W.-Arn. ( Wormia hamata, Vahl, C.P. No. 1600 in Herb. 

 Peradeniensi), is very abundant in some of the warmer districts of Ceylon, and owing to 

 its spreading so much by its roots, is a very troublesome weed to the cultivator. Its 

 Cinghalese name is Gonawel or Gonapittcmwel. 



DESCRIPTION OP THE PLATE. 



Tab. XXIV. 



Fig. 1. Unexpanded flower of Ancistrocladus Vahlii, Am. 



Fig. 2. Flower with the corolla and stamens removed. 



Fig. 3. Corolla and stamens. 



Fig. 4. Stamens. 



Fig. 5. Longitudinal section of ovary, showing the single erect ovule. 



Fig. 6. Ovule removed. 



Fig. J. Longitudinal section of ovule. 



Fig. 8. Early development of the seed, where the testa has become slightly rugose. 



Fig. 9 & 10. Somewhat later development of seed, the testa becoming plicate. 



Fig. 11. Still later development of seed. 



Fig. 12. Still later development of seed. 



Fig. 13. Still later development of seed. 



Fig. 14. Longitudinal section of ripe seed, showing the embryo in position. 



Fig. 15. Embryo removed. 



Fig. 16. Portion of the brittle albumen invested with the plicae of testa. 



Fig. 17. Longitudinal section of immature fruit. 



Fig. 18. Longitudinal section of mature fruit. 



