0*64 PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 3fllSCt. 



dix simple, drooping. Spathes partial, numerous, ovate, con- 

 cave, smooth, crimson on the inside, outside darker-coloured, 

 six or eight of these nearest the base of the spadix embrace a 

 double row of female-hermaphrodite flowers, and are not al- 

 ways deciduous, but sometimes wither, and remain till the 

 seeds are ripe. All the rest, and they are very numerous, ex- 

 panding in succession for two or three months, embrace simi- 

 lar double rows of abortive, or male hermaphrodite flowers; 

 which, with their spathes, are always deciduous. Calyx no 

 other than the just mentioned spathes. Carol of two, dissi- 

 milar petals; the exterior one with an unequally five-toothed 

 apex, which soon becomes revolute, the inner one sometimes 

 called the nectary, half the length of the exterior one ; when 

 forcibly expanded they are nearly round, but in their natu- 

 ral state oblong, and deeply concave, with an emarginate 

 apex, and incurved, ensiform point. Filaments in both flow- 

 ers five, with sometimes the rudiment of a sixth. Anthers 

 in the male-hermaphrodite linear, and as long as the fila- 

 ments; in the female-hermaphrodite minute, and without 

 pollen. Germ inferior, oblong, three-celled, with from four 

 to five or six rows of ovula in each cell, regularly attached 

 to a central, fleshy receptacle axis; by their growth they are 

 forced from the regular situation id which they are found in 

 the germ, their insertions cannot then be easily traced ; in the 

 male-hermaphrodite they are abortive. Style cylindric. 

 Stigma three-lobed, large and clammy. Berry oblong, ta- 

 pering to each end ; of a soft fleshy consistence, smooth and 

 yellow, marked longitudinally with five ribs, three-celled ; 

 the partitions distinct, but soft and pulpy, and no doubt dis- 

 appear when dry, and long kept. Seeds numerous, the size 

 of a small pea, round, turbinate, tubercled ; the exterior half 

 dark-chesnut or blackish toward the umbilicus, which is a 

 large circular cavity ; light brown. Integument, &c. as de- 

 scribed and figured by Gcerlner. Carp. i. 28. 9. L 11. 



