1. PoTHos.] 132. ARACE^. 



upper tips of the wings auricled (in Puri specimens) or obtuse (in 

 E-amnagar specimens). Spathe •17--25" broad, cymbiform, cuspidate, 

 peduncled, and spadix with a pedicel above the spathe which is usually 

 deflexed. Spadix •17--2" diam., ellipsoid or obovoid. 



Eamnagar Hills ! Piiri ! Fl. March-April. 



There is cousiclerable difference of opinion as to the limitation of the species 

 in this .RToup of Pofhos. Engler separates sca7ide)ig, Eoxburghii, Vriesianus and 

 Cathcuriii. Moxburghil is separated by the quite globose spadix "S-'So" diam. Our 

 Ramnagar specimen with very small leaves resembles one specimen placed in 

 Roxbiirghii but it is not in flower. Other specimens placed in Boxhurghii in Herb, 

 Kew. have the form of leaf of Cathcartii. Some botanists make the deflection of 

 the pedicel a specific character. 



2. P. Cathcartii, Schott. 



Less widely scandent than the last, but larger in all its parts and 

 leaves acuminate, 3-6" longj oblong, ovate -oblong or sometimes 

 lanceolate, petiole about half as long as the blade, narrowly ob- 

 cuneate (with the wings). Spathe -S--?" broad (up to \", F.B.I.). 

 Spadix •25--35" diam. (up to -5" F.B.I.). Pedicel erect. Berries 

 scarlet -S--?" long. 



Taria and Duars ! and probably therefore in Purneah. Fl. c.s. 



See note under F. seandens. Hooker includes under Cathcarfii plants with quite 

 globose spadices and my plant has such a spadix and according to Eiigler, there- 

 fore, should be P. Eoxburghii. Hooker also states that the pedicel or stipes is 

 sometimes decurved in Cathcartii. 



Species of Anthurium, a large tropical American genus, with usually 

 conspicuous caudex and variously shaped reticulately nervuled leaves 

 and frequently brightl}'^ coloured spathes are commonly cultivated 

 in grass greenhouses. 



2. RHAPHIDOPHORA, Schott. 



Suffruticose climbers clinging by their adventitious roots, with 

 distichous usually large, entire or pinnatifid leaves Avith many primary 

 nerves and branching secondary nerves ; i)etiole geniculate at the 

 tip. Spathe coriaceous, ovate, acuminate, deciduous. Spadix 

 sessile above the spathe, stout. Flowers croAvded 2 -sexual, perianth 



0, stamens 4-6 with very short flattened filaments and terminal 

 anthers. Ovary obconic, truncate, Avith small sessile linear stigma. 

 Ovules many parietal. Berries many-seeded and confluent, their 

 tissue loaded Avith intercellular raphides. Seeds albuminous. Embryo 

 axile. 



Parenchyma of the stems and leaves with raphides. 



1. R. decursiva, Schott. 



A stout climbing aroid AAith stems over I" diam., large glossy pinna- 

 tifid leaves about 1 ft. long with 4-5 segments, or in more luxuriant 

 specimens up to 2-5 ft. long Avith 6-12 segments, segments falcate 

 acuminate 3-4-nerved 6-12" long, paler green but not glaucous 

 beneath. Petiole about as long as blade, terete, slightly grooved but 

 neither deeply channelled nor Avinged. Spathe 5-7" subcylindrically 

 cymbiform, yellow, beaked. Spadix shorter than spathe, narroAV 

 oblong. Peduncle 3-6". Stigma raised on the conical top of the 

 ovary. 



858 



