and some other Genera of Malayan Plants. 123 



Myrmecodia tuberosa. 



Nidus germinans formicarum rubrarum. Rumph. Amb. vi. p. 1 ip. 



t. 55. fig. 2. 

 Found at Pulo Nias. 



This singular plant is found parasitic upon old trees, in the form 

 of a large irregular tuber, from which arise a few thick, short, 

 fleshy branches. The Leaves are crowded at the rounded 

 extremities of these branches, and are opposite, petiolate, 

 obovate-oblong, with a short acumen, attenuated to the 

 petiole, entire, very smooth, somewhat leathery. Petioles 

 long, roundish, inserted on a large persistent peltate knob, 

 whose edges expand into a kind of stipule, ciliated along 

 the margin with dense strigose fibres, and cleft above in the 

 axil of the petiole. The Jlowers are sessile, closely disposed 

 in the spaces between the stipular bases of the petioles and 

 half concealed under their projecting edges. Calyx mem- 

 branaceous, superior, nearly entire. Corolla white, tubular, 

 quadrifid ; segments erect, rather acute ; a villous ring 

 within the tube immediately below the insertion of the sta- 

 mens. Stamens four, shorter than the corolla, and alternate 

 with its segments ; anthers white, two-celled. Style longer 

 than the stamens. Stigma simple, tomentose. Ovary four- 

 celled, four-seeded. Berry ovate, smooth, white with lon- 

 gitudinal lines, four-celled, four-seeded. Seeds furnished 

 with albumen ; embryo in its axis. 



Obs. There can be no doubt of this being the plant described 

 by Rumphius, although the leaves are represented more 

 acute in his figure than they are in my specimens. 



R 2 HYDNO- 



