VOL. IV.] PJiyllospadix. 38 



o 



zoma, and concealing the ascending flowering branches. Leaf- 

 sheaths long, open as in Graraineae, but each nodal leaf-sheath 

 completely investing the rhizoma and the distal terminal and 

 lateral buds. All nodal sheaths on rhizoma and flowering 

 branches rent by the expanding buds, leaving only the thicker 

 portion to support the lamina. Laminae, linear, emarginate at 

 the apex, smooth, 3-nerved, furnished when very young with 

 " fin-cells," along the margin. Ligule short of two auriculate 

 appendages. 



Flowering stems ascending as lateral branches from the 

 rhizoma, slender, naked below. They are from one-third to 

 two-thirds of a meter to the summit of the upper spathes, and 

 are continued to the height of a meter or more by means of the 

 leaves and leaf-like tips of the spathes. Flowers without perianth, 

 dioecious, arranged in a double row, on a spadix which is sessile 

 within the spathe, but short peduncled below. Pistillate spadices 

 in the axils of the stem-leaves and five or six centimeters in length. 

 Staminate plants infrequent, their spadices shorter. Spadix 

 linear, flattened, somewhat channeled, provided along each 

 margin with a row of oblong, obtuse, incurved, obliquely ascend- 

 ing, chartaceous appendages (retinacula), one for each ovary or 

 pair of anther-cells, the whole closely invested when young by 

 the membranous spathe. The acute apex of the spadix usually 

 projects slightly beyond the spathe proper. 



Ovary cordate-sagittate afiixed near the base to the spadix 

 and terminated above by a very short style, and two thin, acumi- 

 nate, irregularl3'-lobed stigmas which are soon deciduous. The 

 ovaries of each row ascend, point obliquely inwards, and alter- 

 nate with a pair of rudimentary anther-cells, appearing when 

 young like the monoecious spadix of Zostera. At anthesis the 

 stigmas only project from the spathe. The spadix and ripened 

 pistils free at maturity from the spathe, but its retinacula never 

 spreading or reflexed. Ovule single, pendulous and orthotropous. 



Each anther, a pair of oblong linear very distinct lobes point- 

 ing obliquely upward and inward along the face of staminate 

 spadix, the apices of each row closely adjusted to those of the 

 opposite -row. Anthers maturing in acropetal order, the male 

 retinacula at the same time successively and permanently recurv- 



