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XXXVI. On a New Genus of Balanophoreæ from New Zealand, and Two New Species of 
Balanophora. By J. D. HooKERy M.D., F.R.S. $ L.S. $c. 
. Read June 16th, 1859. 
SINCE laying before the Linnean Society my observations on the structure and affi- 
nities of Balanophoreæ *, I have received two additional species of Balanophora, and a 
remarkable new genus of the Order, which I shall now proceed to describe under the 
name of Dactylanthus. 
DACTYLANTHUS, n. g. 
Dioicum. Rhizoma tuberosum, lobatum. Pedunculi plurimi, squamati, apice spadices plurimos gerentes. 
Flores in spadices dense conferti, inferiores dissiti. Fr. masc. Stamen solitarium sessile, filamento 
brevissimo, anthera 2-loculari. Fr. raw. Perianthium ovario globoso subsessili adnatum, lobis 2- 
subulatis, stylo filiformi, stigmate simplici. 
1. DACTYLANTHUS TAYLORI, H.f. (Tas. LXXV. A.) 
Hab. Nova Zelandia ad radices Fagi et Pittospori montibus prope Wanganui, alt. 4000 ped. (Rev. R. 
Taylor, M.A.). Nom. vern. Pua reinga (Flos Hades). 
Rhizoma magnitudine pugilli et ultra, tuberculatum, superficie celluloso, pustulis papillisve nullis, intus 
sicco rubrum. Pedunculi numerosi, 4-6 unc. alti, sicco fragiles, rugulosi, opaci, ferruginei, intus 
rufescentes, squamis imbricatis laxe tecti, apice in receptaculum floriferum dilatati. Squamæ ob- 
longæ, obtusze, lata basi sessiles, inferiores dissitæ, 1 unc. longæ, brunneæ, superiores sensim majores, 
supremæ inflorescentiam involucrantes, 1-2 unc. longæ, lineari-oblongæ, membranaceæ, albæ medio 
sordide brunnez v. rubræ.  Spadices (v. pedicelli floriferi) 10-30, conferti, erecti, 1-2 unc. longi, 
cylindracei v. fusiformes, crassitie pennæ corvinæ, stipitati, basi nudi v. floribus deformatis bracteolati. 
Flores dense conferti. Masc. Stamen solitarium nudum, sessile, filamento brevissimo crasso; an- 
thera adnata, 2-locularis, transverse oblonga, rimis subverticalibus dehiscens, loculis crassiusculis, 
inferiores in spica imperfectæ dissitze stipitatæ. Pollen pallidum, globosum. Fr. raw. sicco nigri, 
sub i unc. longi. Ovarium stipitatum, subglobosum. Perianthium supra ovarium paulo angusta- 
tum, dein bi-, rarius 3-partitum, a dorso compressum, cum stylo connatum ; segmentis respectu 
axeos lateralibus, subulatis, inzequalibus. Stylus cylindricus, teres, superne paulo nr ey apice 
obtusus.—“ Planta viva odorem subgratum Melonis, sed demum ingratum humi spirat.”— Taylor. 
For a specimen of this singular plant I am indebted to my friend the Rev. R. Taylor, of 
New Zealand, who brought a fragment of it to England in 1856, and on my pointing out 
its probable interest, promised to procure more on his return to New Zealand. This he 
did; and early in the present year I had the pleasure of receiving from him a dried 
specimen of the female plant, a perfect male inflorescence in a letter, and a pen and ink 
sketch of the peduncle and flowers, with notes on the same. Owing to the great con- 
traction of the cellular tissue, and blackening and fragility of the only entire specimen, 
which was unfortunately loosely packed in a box and much damaged, I have had con- 
siderable difficulty in so restoring the parts as to enable Mr. Fitch to complete the 
accompanying Plate, and myself to make the necessary analyses. 
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