502 MONOECIA MONANDRIA. ArUT/ll. 



Root fibrous. Stem erect or ascending-, from one to three 

 feet in length, marked with cicatrices of the fallen leaves, 

 four or five inches in circumference, the height of the whole 

 plant from three to six feet. Leaves from the apex of the 

 stem, petioled, narrow cordate, peltate, acute-pointed ; lobes 

 angular, with the angles rounded, margins a little waved, 

 smooth, of a shining green on both sides ; from eight to twelve 

 inches long, by six or eight broad. Petioles sheathing at 

 the base, the rest round, smooth, clouded, and tapering, length 

 various. Scape axillary, shorter than the petioles, round, 

 smooth, tapering, and clouded like the petioles. Spathe, the 

 lower part permanent, ovate, fleshy, and closely enveloping 

 the germs ; the upper portion expands into an oblong', pale 

 greenish vault, crowned with a subulate point, smooth on 

 both sides, this portion is deciduous with that portion of the 

 spadix which is above the germs. Spadix clavate, rather, if 

 any, shorter than the spathe. Anthers numerous, occupying 

 a large portion of the spadix immediately above the nectarial 

 glands, each consisting of eight or twelve small, sub-cylin- 

 dric cells forming angles on the sides ; these contain the pol- 

 len and have each a small perforation at the apex for its exit. 

 Germs many, round the base of the spadix only. JVectarial 

 filaments no other than some variously shaped compressed 

 glands round the contracted part of the spadix, between the 

 anthers and germs. Berries numerous, with generally from 

 one to three seeds in each. 



I do not find that this species is employed as an article of 

 diet, but it is, I am told, used medicinally. 



10. A.flagellijormis. R. 



Stemless. Leaves sagittate ; lobes spreading. Spathe and 

 .s;9arfia; equal, whip-shaped. JVectarial scales co\ouced. An- 

 thers two-lobed, two-celled. 



A native of Bengal, where it is found on damp, shaded, 

 pasture ground. Flowering time the rainy season. 



