244 



A SPADIX IN THE AXIL OF THE SPATHE 

 OF XANTHOSOMA. 



In making preparations of the flowers of Xa?ithosoma ? violaceiim, 

 Schott, for the Singapore herbarium, an interesting al)normality was 

 detected, for in a large spathe two spadixes were f'mnd, the position of 

 the second being that of a branch in the axil of the spathe. The 

 spathe in question was 17 inches long; the normally present spadix 

 12 inches long: but the abnormally produced spadix was only three 

 inches, being too short to pass beyond the constriction of the spathe 

 which had forced it into a curve. Its flowers were younger than 

 those of the normally produced spadix, but apparently normal. On 

 thtir lesser age rests an argument supporting the view that the 

 abnormally produced spadix is a branch in the axil of the spathe ; for 

 if were not of a lower order than the normal spadix its flowers ought 

 to be of the same age. 



The abnormal specimen is part of No. 276 now in the 

 Herbarium of the Botanic Gardens. 



I. H. BURKILL. 



GRAMMATOPHYLLUM FLOWERING IN 

 JANUARY. 



In the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay 

 States. VI., 1907, page 49, Mr. H. N. Ridley recorded the flowering of 

 Grammatophyllum speciosum, Blume, in the Botanic Gardens, in January 

 of that year, the usual flowering in August and September having 

 been omitted in 1906. The same phenomenon has been repeated ; 

 for this orchid did not flower in 1913, but flowered in Singapore very 

 freely in January and February, 1914. It was seen to be in 

 flower in the Kukob district of Johore at the same time. In Penang 

 it flowered as usual in July and August, 1913. 



I. H. B. 



SOME PERTINENT PUBLICATIONS. 



The Imperial Bureau of Applied Entomology. " In the 

 summer of 1911, when the Prime Ministers of the Self-Governing Domi- 

 nions were present in England, they were invited by the Secretary of 

 State for the Colonies to discuss with the Entomological Research Com- 

 mittee (appointed by the Colonial Office, in 1909), certain proposal for 

 furthering and co-ordinating the investigation of injurious insects 

 throughout the Empire. By this meeting it was unanimously agreed 

 that the establishment of a central organisation for this purpose was 

 desirable, and consequently a tentative scheme was submitted for the 

 consideration of the Colonial Governments concerned. 



