802 DiOECiA HKXANDRiA. Dioscorect. 



twining, columnar, smootli. Leaves profoundly broad-cor- 

 date, siubuTale, pointed, from nine to eleven-nerved, smooth. 

 Female spikes axillary, crowded, pendulous. 



A native of Chittagong-, and so exactly like the follow- 

 ing, crispata, as to be distinguished from it only by its per- 

 fectly smooth, polished, columnar stem and branches, which 

 are perfectly free from every appearance of even an angle or 

 rib. Flowering time in the Botanic garden, the close of the 

 rainy season. 



9. D. crispata. R. 



Tubers roundish. Stems annual, twining", round, from 

 ten to fifteen- winged ; whifjs curled. Leaves alternate, 

 broad-cordate. Female spikes pendulous ; male panicled. 



A large, elegant species, a native of the interior of Bengal, 

 and introduced by Dr. Carey into the Botanic garden in 

 1798, where it blossoms during- the rainy season. 



Root tuberous, and small for the great size of the plant, 

 with numerous, ramou?, slender fibres issuing from every 

 part thereof. Like potatoes the old roots perish when the new 

 ones are produced, and may be called biennial. Axillary 

 tubers, bulbs they are often called, are in this species, both 

 numerous and large, and are proper sets to rear plants 

 from. Stems annual, twiuing, unarmed, round, thick, many 

 fathoms in length, beautifully ornamented with from 

 ten to fifteen parallel, curled wings, otherwise the whole 

 is perfectly smooth. Leaves alternate, petioled, broad-cor- 

 date, subulate, pointed, from seven to eleven-nerved, with 

 numerous, parallel, anastomosing veins on both sides, from 

 three to nine inches each way. Petioles shorter than the 

 leaves, ornamented with parallel, curled wings, like the 

 stems. Female. Spikes axillary, crowded, perfectly pen- 

 dulous. Bractes in pairs, unequal, one-flowered. Floivers 

 alternate, rather remote, small. Petals or leaflets of the 

 calyx six, linear, smooth, white. Stamina, six erect, short, 

 emaroinate, abortive glands. The capsule has never come to 

 maturity in this garden. 



