EpipaCtlS. GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 455 



single, radical, roimd-cordate, plaited and coloured, many- 

 nerved. 



A small, beautiful, herbaceous plant, growing under the 

 thick shade of bamboos, in the vicinity of Calcutta, blossom- 

 ing- in the months of May, and June; immediately after the 

 flowers decay the leaf from each bulb appears. 



Root, a small, solid, probably biennial, pale white, sub- 

 diaphanous, round bulb, marked with two sets of rings, and 

 numerous, short, obtuse papillae, from the centre of one of the 

 sets of the rings issues the scape, and soon afterwards the leaf. 

 Leaves radical, generally single, rust-coloured on the surface, 

 greener underneath, round-cordate, ribbed with many nerves, 

 both sides clothed with short, distinct, white bristles, about 

 four inches each way. Petioles channelled, and enveloped 

 in sheaths like those of the scape. Scape radical, appearing 

 before the leaf, erect, generally bearing on its apex two large 

 flowers, embraced by two or three vaginated scales. Floio- 

 ers large ; corol of a yellowish green, with a pale rose-colour- 

 ed nectary. Calyx ; spathe a small lanceolate bracte at the 

 insertion of each flower only. Petals five, equal, lanceolate, 

 smooth, three sub erect, and two below. Lip sub-cylindric, 

 the margins towards the base, where broadest, being incurv- 

 ed into a tube, Avhich conceals the column of fructification ; 

 lamina two-Iobed. Column of fructification clavate, cover 

 cordate. Sligma a large clammy pit in the under side, near 

 the apex of the column. 



Is propagated by suckers from the apex of the petiole, 

 just below the leaf, and under the surface of the soil, gene- 

 rally two from each, and by the close of the rains, the single 

 bulb each terminates in, is nearly as large as the parent. 



4. E. trinervia. R. 



Root creeping. Leaves sub radical, petioled, ovate-ob- 

 long, three-nerved. Scape with about three remote sheaths 

 below the spike. Lamina transversely linear. 



A native of the Moluccas. 



