434 TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. PolJtOS. 



5. V.gigantea. R. 



Perennial. Stems rooting-. Leaves oblong', entire. Flow- 

 ers axillary ; florets naked, heptandrous. 



This is the stoutest of these parasitic Jlroidece that I have 

 met with. It is a native of Prince of Wales' Island; from 

 thence introduced into the Botanic garden by Mr. W. Rox- 

 burgh. Flowering time in Bengal the close of the rains in 

 October. It has not yet produced ripe seed there. 



Stems perennial, creeping on the ground, or upon trees 

 and plants ; in a very thriving state, of six years' growth, not 

 more than three and four feet long, and about four inches in 

 circumference, round, and strongly marked with the circular 

 scars of the fallen leaves. Leaves alternate, sub-bifarious, 

 petioled, approximate, oblong, cordate, entire, smooth; length 

 from one to two feet high, and about two-thirds thereof in 

 breadth. Petioles as long as the leaves, channelled, smooth, 

 much enlarged at the base, and stem-clasping. Peduncles 

 axillary, solitary, very short. Style sub-cylindric, short- 

 pointed, opening a little on one side about the time that the 

 anthers discharge their pollen, smooth on both sides, of a dir- 

 ty dull purple colour, length about six inches. Spadix cy- 

 lindric, length of the spathe, obtuse, every part most closely 

 covered with the sessile fructifications; colour a pale lively 

 yellow, beautifully dotted with the dark linear stigmas. Fi- 

 laments about seven to each germ, short, broad, and thin. 

 Anthers two-lobed. Germs very numerous, parallelopiped, 

 truncate, much flattened, vertically one-celled, with general- 

 ly two ©villa, obliquely attached to the bottom of the cell. 

 Style none. Stigma a vertical, linear, grooved, dark-colour- 

 ed projection on the middle of the truncate germ, as in the last 

 species; the substance of the germ and spathe also abound in 

 short stiff bristles, which readily enter the skin, causing pain 

 and itching. Calyx and corol none. 



6. P. pertusa. R. 



Scandent, sub-parasitic, rooting on trees. Leaves cordate, 



