81 



a hostplant for Balanophora globosa. Apparently the young 

 parasite attaches itself to comparatively young roots and gradually 

 kills the distal part so that finally the parasite is placed on 

 what seems to be the tip of the root (/ fig, 1. PL III); several 

 years are needed , without doubt , to complete the development 

 of the parasite , years which are passed completely underground, 

 the plant reaching the surface but shortly before the develop- 

 ping of its flowers. Several among them will certainly never 

 reach the surface and must die subterraneously in as much as 

 I have frequently found them at a depth of a meter and more. 



The surface of the tuber is wrinkled and of a dark brown 

 colour, the shape can best be judged of by a glance at the 

 photo's of the several specimens in fig. 1. PI. III. The inflorescences 

 arise in the interior of those tubers ; they push their way out- 

 wards thus rupturing the outer tissue-layers of the tuber and 

 causing a tear which gives rise to the formation of a sheath 

 around the lower part of the inflorescence (/^ fig. 1 PI. III). While 

 yet entirely inside of the tuber the young inflorescence forms 

 the scales which will cover it up to the moment of its blos- 

 soming. The young inflorescence enclosed in the tuber has first 

 an almost oval shape, soon it grows in length and even 

 forms a more or less distinct stalk (/", h fig. 1 PI. Ill) which 

 carries the more or less cylindrical inflorescence {Ji fig. 1 PI. Ill) ; 

 sometimes we meet with abnormalities, the most frequent one 

 occurs when the thickness of the upper part of the inflorescence 

 remains normal that of the lower part increases considerably 

 while longitudinal growth stops. A shape like that of h fig. 1 

 pi. Ill results. 



From the moment of its appearance up to the date of 

 flowering the inflorescence is covered with scales, which, when 

 adult, have the shape of a more or less hexagonal shield with 

 stalk in the centre by which they are attached to the axis of 

 the inflorescence. On looking at the scales from the outside one 

 observes that their central part is the most bulged out: they 

 slant towards the periphery. 



At the moment of their appearance, after just breaking 



