and some other Genera of Malayan Plants. 125 



Obs. I am not aware that these two plants have been described 

 by any botanist since the time of Rumphius, or that any 

 conjecture has been made regarding their place and family 

 from his figure or description. From their common habit 

 as parasites, I should have been much inclined to place 

 them under one genus ; but the different number of seeds 

 in each, supported by the difference of a simple and bifid 

 stigma, seems to oppose this, while the distinction is further 

 confirmed by the different disposition and insertion of the 

 leaves, which in Hydnophytum are arranged precisely as 

 usual in the Rubiacece, but in Myrmecodia are crowded round 

 the thick fleshy branches in such a manner, that their being 

 really opposite is not immediately apparent, while their 

 insertion on their broad peltate bases is further peculiar. 



LASIANTHUS. 



Rubiacea. Juss. 



Calyx 4-partitus, laciniis linearibus. Corolla infundibtlliformis, 

 pilosa. Stamina 4. Stigmata 4, linearia, crassa. Bacca 

 tetrapyrena. 

 Siiffrutices, Jloribus axillaribus, bracteis oppositis, baccis cyaneis. 



Lasianthus cyanocarpus. 



Villosus, bracteis magnis cordatis. 



Found at Tappanooly on the west coast of Sumatra. 



Stem herbaceous or sufFrutescent, erect, round, villous. Leaves 

 opposite, petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, acute, entire, vil- 

 lous ; three or three inches and a half long. Petioles short. 

 Stipules interpetiolar, acute. Flowers generally three in each 

 axil, nearly sessile, supported by two large opposite cor- 

 date bracts. Calyx superior, four-, sometimes five-parted; 

 lacinise linear, acute, pilose. Corolla yellow, tubular, funnel- 

 shaped, 



