PotllOS. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 437 



length. Anthers cordate, appearing beyond the germ. 

 Germs numerous, the most general form a four -sided wedge, 

 apex truncate. Style, scarcely any. Stigma, an elevated 

 vertically oblong opening. 



10. P. pmnatijida. R. 



Perennial, rooting on trees. Leaves pinnatifid ; segments 

 falcate, one-nerved. 



A native of Sumatra; from thence brought into the Bo- 

 tanic garden at Calcutta, where it grows freely on the trunks 

 of trees, to Avhich its lateral roots adhere most firmly, the ori- 

 ginal one being still in the ground, where first planted. Al- 

 though some of the plants are six or seven years old and 

 about twenty feet high, they have not yet blossomed. 

 ■ 



11. P. heterophylla. R. 



Caulescent, creeping, armed. Leaves from cordate-sagit- 

 tate to pinnatifid. Spathe erect, spiral, many times longer 

 than the short cylindric spadix. Florets tetra petal o us, te- 

 trandrous. 



Can it be Draconthim spinosnm, Flor. Zei/L 328 1 



A native of Bengal, delighting in a rich, moist soil ; it 

 flowers, though rarely, during the cool season. 



Root fibrous. Stems and branches creeping, armed with 

 short, sharp prickles. Leaves until the plants are old, and 

 begin to flower, simple-sagittate, and cordate-sagittate, after- 

 wards pinnatifid, with long lanceolar, acuminate segments, 

 smooth above, nerve and larger veins armed on the under 

 side ; from six to fourteen or sixteen inches long. Petioles 

 completely armed ; base sheathing; above round, generally 

 shorter than the leaves. Scapes axillary, solitary, one-flower- 

 ed, length of the petioles, and armed like them. Spathe 

 sub cylindric, acute, spirally twisted above the spadix ; co- 

 lour a dark dull reddish purple ; length from eight to twelve 

 inches long, and as thick as the little finger, opening at the 

 base only where the spadix is lodged while the pollen is dis- 



Bb3 



