42 



82. MEGACLINffJM Bufo; rachi maxima lanceolata, floribua nigro-pilosis, 

 sepalis acutissimis supremo laevi lateralibus intus pubescentibus, petalis 

 minimis acutis glabris, labello ovato carnoso rugoso. 



Let the reader imagine a green snake to be pressed flat 

 like a dried flower, and then to have a row of toads, or some 

 such speckled reptiles, drawn up along the middle in single 

 file, their backs set up, their forelegs sprawling right and left, 

 and their mouths wide open, with a large purple tongue wag- 

 ging about convulsively ; and a pretty considerable approach 

 will be gained to an idea of this strange plant, which, if 

 Pythagoras had but known of it, would have rendered all 

 arguments about the transmigration of souls superfluous. It 

 is a native of Sierra Leone, whence Messrs. Loddiges received 

 it. A figure of it will be published in some future number of 

 the Gardener's Chronicle. 



83. GONATANTHUS sarmentosus (Link, Klotzsch & Otto, p. 33. t. 14.) ; 

 rbizomatibus tuberosis, apice stoloniferis ; foliis membranaceis, peltatis, 

 ovatis, brevi-acuminatis, basi cordato-emarginatis, pctiolis teretibus, gla- 

 bris, albescente-viridibus ; spatha longissima, alutacea, convoluta ; spa- 

 dice brevi ; antberarum connectivis apice atropurpureis. 



This is an Araceous plant from India (?) which has been 

 raised in the Royal Botanic Garden, Berlin. It has leaves 

 something like those of the common Wake Robin, but with 

 the lobes at the base connate. The spathe is long, dull yellow, 

 abruptly bent near the base, and extended into a long narrow 

 convolute point. Dr. Klotzsch thus characterizes the new 

 genus to which he refers it. 



GONATANTHUS N. Spatha persistens,ad basin globoso-constricta, convo- 

 luta, in genu obliquum pollicare dilatato-complanata, antice aperta, apice 

 convolutim-transiens, limbo longissimo convoluto, Spadix liber, brevis, 

 interrupte-androgynus, genitalibus rudimentariis infra ovaiia et stamina, 

 appendice sterih nullo. Antberae 6, uniloculars, connatae, eonnectivo 

 crasso, peltato, 6 lobato, brevi stipitato, verticillatim adnatae, infra api- 

 cem poro dehiscentes. PolUnis granula lenticularia, minutissime-echi- 

 nata. Ovaria plurima, conferta, Libera, unilocularia, intus ad apicem ap- 

 pendice columnari pendula, basimque appendice centrali, scutellseformi 

 instructa. Ovula plurima, conferta, infra scutellam basilarem affixa, e 

 funiculis longiuscuhs erecto-incurva, ortbotropa. Stigma sessile, umbi- 

 licato-depressum. Bacca .... 



Herba indica? rhizomate tuberoso apice stolonifero, foliis tempestivis, 

 peltatis ; spatha alutacea. 



