100 FLORA VITIENSIS. 
ceus, and having an extensive geographical range, from the Society Islands to Viti, New Hebrides, and the 
east coast of New Holland. As several points connected with the structure of the plant are still obscure, 
I subjoin Solander’s description, made from fresh specimens :— 
* ACROBLASTUM (AxpóflAacros, germina in summitate habens). Fl. foeminei superiores totum spa- 
dicem tegentes. Cal. (spathe (potius folia) vage, concave, foliaceæ, in caule infra flores masculos.) Spadix 
ovatus, simplicissimus, undique tectus fructificationibus feemineis numerosissimis. Perianthium nullum. 
Cor. nulla. Pist. germen oblongum, utrinque attenuatum, parvum. Stylo capillari, longitudine germinis. 
Stigma simplex. Fl. masculi infra spadicem in superiore parte caulis sparsi. Cal. nullus, nisi folia sunt 
spathacea. Cor. petala quatuor, ovata, obtusissima, cruciata, duo opposita minora. Stam. filamenta nulla, 
eorum antherarumque loco columna subtetragona, superne convexa ibique excavata foveis circiter duo- 
decim polliniferis. 
* ACROBLASTUM pallens. * Ea-owa, Zahitensibus. Hab. in Tahiti parasitica. 2. Planta parasitica 
radicum, quoad omnes partes e flavo-albida. Radix bulboso-tuberosa, magnitudine nucis Juglandis, albida, 
extus scabriuscula, tandem pro scapo vel caule superne aperiens, evadensque cyathiformis seu suburceo- 
lata, margine inequali, e eujus centro caulis unicus subspithamseus vel sepius brevior, crassitie penne 
olorine vel interdum digiti minimi, erectus, simplex, teres, vestitus; foliis sessilibus, oblongo-ovatis, 
obtusis, concavis, glabris, crassiusculis, sesquiuncialibus, quinque vel sex in singulo caule, basi vaginantibus. 
Fructificatio terminalis. Cal. spatha nulla; folia enim illius loco serviunt. Spadix simplex, oblongo- 
ovata, caule duplo crassior, magnitudine et crassitie articuli ultimi pollicis, obtusus, densissime tectus flos- 
culis numerosissimis femineis ; infra spadicem in superna parte caulis flores masculi sparsi, remotiusculi, 
distincti. Masculi flores infra fæmineos. Perianthium nullum. Cor. petala quatuor, ovata, obtusissima, 
subtruncata, cruciata, ante explicationem arcte conniventia et fornicata, dein patentia, planiuscula, extus 
glabra, levia, intus striata, farinacea; duo opposita paulo minora, vix lineam longa. Stam. filamenta nulla, 
sed earum loco columna e receptaculo parum elevata, crassa, subtetragona, superne convexa, ibique excavata 
foveis circiter 12 vel 15 polline repletis; ideoque antherz proprie nulle. Pollen dispergitur aperiente 
corolla. Pistillum nullum. Flores feminei totum spadicem tegentes. Cal. proprius nullus. Corolla 
nulla. Pist. germen oblongum, utrinque attenuatum, parvum, terminatum stylo capillari longitudine 
germinis semilineari. Stigma simplex. 
** Obs.— Inter floseulos foemineos immixta sunt corpuscula brevissime pedicellata, obovata, germinibus 
duplo majora, obtusa, glabra, microscopio inspecta reticulata, superficiem totius spadicis tegentia, germi- 
nibus enim sunt altiora, intus viscida, unde nee anthere ob defectum pollinis, forte semina maturescentia. 
Etsi semina matura nobis non visa, distinctum judicavi. Genus ob columnam polliniferam, defectum 
spathe propriz, etc." (Soland. Primitie Flore Insularum Oceani Pacifici MS., pp. 310, 311.) 
Ordo XLV. TACCACEZE. 
This Order was thought to be confined to the eastern hemisphere until Parker found a species (Tacca 
Parkeri, Seem.) with simple leaves in British Guiana. The different species have as yet not been worked 
out properly. All those with bipinnatifid leaves are generally regarded as belonging to T. pinnatifida. 
But that is an erroneous view. The type of T. pinnatifida of Forster, judging from his specimens and 
his figure, is the broad-leaved species, which Rumphius terms T. litorea, from its being always found on 
or near the sea-beach. Forster gathered it in the Society Islands. lt has probably an extensive geogra- 
phical range, but that has not yet been accurately traced out. Allied to it, but quite distinct, is Z. invo- 
lucrata, Schum. et Thonn. (T. Guineensis, Don), from tropical Africa, and a species which occurs in the 
Sandwich Islands (Macrae!) is probably 7. Oceanica, Nutt., in ‘American Journal of Pharmacy,’ vol. ix. 
p. 806.* I say probably, because this periodical is not in the Library of the British Museum, and the 
copy of it existing at the Pharmaceutical Society of London wants the ninth and several other volumes. 
Next to this Sandwich Island species, ranges my T. maculata, a very distinct-looking plant, whilst Z. pin- 
natifida, Brown, Prodr., from the north coast of New Holland, constitutes an additional very distinct 
species (7. Brownii, Seem.). Of all the bipinnatifid Taccas 7. Brownii has the smallest leaf-segments ; 
they are ovate-acuminate or lanceolate, and minutely dentated ; the involucral leaves are narrow, and the 
* The Pia of the Sandwich Islands grows spontaneously in sunny places, and is also cultivated to a 
considerable extent; it is about 2 feet high, and every part of it is extremely bitter. The fecula obtained 
from its tubers is equal to the best West Indian arrowroot, and is much used by the inhabitants for 
culinary purposes, starching linen, and various other uses. It sells in Honolulu at about five cents a 
pound; and according to official returns, 13,683 pounds of it were exported in 1845, 10,000 in 1846; in 
the three following years the quantity sent abroa _was less, but in 1850 it had again increased.— Seemann, 
* Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald,’ vol. ii. p. 85. 
* 
