New or Noteworthy Malayan Araceae» 



BY 



Capt. C. R. W. K. VAN ALDERWERELT VAN ROSENBURGH. 



The natural arrangement of the Araceae foUowed by Engler may be 

 very valuable from a scientific point of view and may prove ofathorough 

 study of the family, as to an easy détermination of the groups and gênera 

 it is inappropriate. 



Till now I hâve failed to discover in dried Araceae, which often are 

 intensively black, inside and outside, the présence of „Milchsaftschlâuche" 

 and, of course, whether thèse are straight or branched. 



When speaking of the tissue of ieaves and pétioles of the group of 

 the Monsteroideae Engler says: „Grundgewebe wenigstens der Stengel 

 und Blâtter mit Spicularzellen". Why does not he also speak of the 

 spathes and ovaries? A leaf without flowers is insufficient for détermination, 

 and when we cannot find thèse cells in the pétioles and Ieaves, it is quite 

 easy to tear or break (cutting is of no avail) transversely a spathe or an 

 ovary and then the spicular (acicular) cells may be seen by hundreds 

 even with the naked eye and who might not yet be convinced has only to 

 crumple or rub in his hands a portion of a spathe or some ovaries of a 

 monsteroid species;— I am sure he will not do so a second time. 



A botanist collecting plants in the jungle will be content to gather 

 only flowering branches when he does not find also fruiting plants and 

 generally he has no time to wait till the flowering plant may produce 

 ripe fruits. When afterwards meeting with such a spécimen without 

 fruits in a herbarium, how will it be possible to détermine the genus 

 when making use of the albuminose or exalbuminose characters of the 

 wanting fruit? 



I think the examples quoted above will be sufficient. 



It occurred to me, that it might be of some value to those interested 

 in the Araceae occurring or introduced in Malaya lo begin my paper 

 on some new or noteworthy Malayan Araceae with an artificial key to 

 the gênera. 



Those désirons to hâve further particulars on the subject should 

 consult Engler's article on the Araceae in Engler and Prantl, A'^^wW/c/îe 

 Pflanzenfamilien, Vol. IP and his diverse monographs of the family in Engler, 

 Pflanzenreich. 



