Achyranthes. pf.ntandria monogynia. 671 



broad. Rib protuberant, and pale. Petioles from three to 

 mx feet long-, the lower half sheathing, those within smooth 

 in every part. Scape rising through the centre of the sheath- 

 ing of the petioles, and elevated but little above them. 

 Spadix about a foot long-, flexuose, hairy, compound, of from 

 six to ten, alternate, bifarious branches. Spathes from six 

 to ten, alternate, bifarious, diverging, smooth, lanceolate, 

 boat-shaped, each embracing- a small raceme, of from six to 

 twelve, pedicelled, pretty large, pale yellow flowers, which 

 expand in succession. Bractes numerous, bifarious, imbri- 

 cated, linear-lanceolate, acute, villous, each of the most in- 

 ferior ones embraces a single flower; the superior ones are 

 smaller anil abortive. Calyx none, except what I lake for 

 the enrol be so called. Petals from six to three interior, 

 and three exterior, unequal in breadth, but of the same 

 length, linear lanceolate, all united at the base. Nectary or 

 sterile stamen, a single, oblong, acute leaflet, inserted on the 

 base of the largest of the three exterior petals, and into this 

 petal no stamen is inserted. Filaments five, inserted on the 

 base of the petals on the inside. Anthers linear, erect, with 

 their apices nearly as high as the stigma. Germ pedicelled, 

 inferior, three sided, three celled, with one ovulum in each, 

 attached to the bottom of its eel!. Style nearly as long as 

 the petals. Stigma simple. 



ACHYRANTHES. Schreb. gen. N. 404. 

 Calyx five-leaved, and calycl d. Carol none. Nectary 

 and stigma various. Germ superior, one celled, one-seeded ; 

 attachment inferior. Capsule utricular, one-seeded. Em- 

 bryo annular, with central perisperm. 



1. A. incana. /?. 



Annual, erect, hoary. Leaves lanceolar. Spikes panicled, 

 terminal. Nectary ten-toothed. 



Illecebrum javanicum. Willd. spec. i. 1205. 



