662 PENT ANURIA MONOGVN1A. Musa. 



the size, shape, and appearance of a black currant, rarely 

 more than two-seeded. Perisperm conform to the seed. 

 Embryo erect, in the lower half of the perisperm. Cotyle- 

 dons nearly round. Radicle inferior. 



4. V. parvifolia. R. 



Leaves angle-cordate, three lobed, crenate-serrate, smooth. 

 Stipules oval. Thyrses leaf opposed, few-tlowered. 



A slender, perennial vine, of exactly the habit of the com- 

 mon grape vine; a native of the eastern part of Bengal. 

 Flowers in February. 



Stems and old branches ligneous, considerably flattened, 

 ten or twelve feet high. Bark dark brown, wilh the exterior 

 lamina thin, and frequently peeling off; young shoots some- 

 what angular, and pretty smooth. Leaves simple, cordate, 

 sometimes three-lobed, crenate-serrate, apex somewhat at- 

 tenuate, smooth on both sides, about two inches long. Ten- 

 drils bifid. Stipules oval, caducous. Thyrses opposite to 

 the leaves, diverging, very small, and only a little longer 

 than the petioles. Flowers very minute, green. Calyx ob- 

 scurely five-lobed. Petioles five, cohering, and tailing off in 

 one body. Nectary five-rounded scales, embracing the base 

 of the germ, alternate with the filaments. Filaments five, 

 length of the germ, at first erect, but by age becoming re- 

 curved. Anthers ovate. Germ round, four-celled, with 

 one ovnlnm in each, attached to the base of the axis. Style 

 scarcely any. Stigma obscurely lobed. 



MUSA. Schreb. gen. N. 1563. 

 Polygamous. Calyx. Spathes partial, one or many flower- 

 ed. Coro/of two unequal petals. Flowers all hermaphrodite. 

 Male-hermaphrodite toward the apex of the spadix. Germ 

 inferior, abortive. Female-hermaphrodite toward the base 

 of the spadix. Germ inferior, three celled ; cells many-seed- 

 ed; attachment central. Berry oblong, three-celled, many- 



