^ofJlOS' TETRANDUIA MONOCYNIA." 4BSr 



5. V. giganlea, R. 



Pt'iennial. Stems rooting. Leaves oblong, cordate, entire. Flow- 

 ers axillary \ florets naked, heptandroiis. 



^Fhis is the stoutest of these parasitic Aioidece that I have met 

 vith. It is a native of Prince of Wales Island; from thence intro- 

 ducecl into tlie Botanic Garden by Mr. W. Roxburgh. Flowering 

 time in Bengal tlie close of the rains in October. It has not yet 

 produced ripe seed there. 



8lems perennial, creeping on the ground, or upon trees and plants ; 

 ill a very thriving state, of six years growth, not more than three and 

 four feet long, and about four inches in circumference, round, and 

 strouirlv marked with the circular scars of the fallen leaves. — Leaves 

 alternaie, sub-bifarious, pelioled, approximate, oblong, cordate, en- 

 lire, smootSi ; length from one to two feet higii, and about two-thirds 

 thereof in bixaddi. — Petioles as long as the leaves, channelled, 

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

 axillary, solitary, very >Aio\t.~ Spa the sub-cy!iadnc, short-pointed, 

 opening a little on one side about the time that the anthers discharge 

 thtir [)ollen, smooth on both sides, of a diity dull purj>le colour, 

 length about six inches. — Spadix cylindric, length of the spathe, ob- 

 tuse, every part most closely covered widi the sessile fructifications; 

 colour a pale lively yellow, beautifully dotted with the dark linear 

 stigmas. — Filaments about seven to each germ, short, broad, and 

 thin. Anthers two-lobed. — Germs very numerous, paiallelopiped, 

 truncate, much llattened, vertically one-celled, with generally two 

 ovula, obliquely attached to the bottom of the cell. Stifle none. 

 Stigma a vertical, linear, grooved, dark-coloured 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 'ca- 

 dily enter the skin, causing pain and itching.— Ca/yj and Coral none- 



6. P. pertusa, R. 



Scandent; sub-parasitic, rooting on trees. Leaves cordate, pei'fo- 



