14. Crtptocortne.] 132. ABACE^. 



surrounding the male inflor. reticulate with transparent pits between the 

 reticulations, the septum is recurved over tip but not entirely blocking the tube. 



2. C. spiralis, Fiscli. Syn. Ambrosinia spiralis, Roxh. 



Similar in habit to C. retrospiralis, with vertical or horizontal root- 

 stock and no stem. Leaves linear or more often rather linear-lanceo- 

 late and -3- -4" wide but occasionally up to -G-'S" wide, more distinctly 

 jjetioled above the sheath. Lower tube of spathe (?'. e. the part 

 surrounding inflorescence) obconic about -75" long, tube above the 

 spathe hardly anj'-, blade up to -3" broad and open below, closed and 

 twisted upwards and transversely rugose within, usually 2-3" long 

 only, but said to attain 4" or more, dark purple especially inside, 

 margin sometimes denticulate. Peduncle hardly any. 



It is said to occur in all the provinces according to Bengal Plants but the 

 material shows no specimens from our area, although the general distribution 

 (from Bombay to Lower Bengal) makes it very probable that it occurs. 



3. C. unilocularis, Wight. Syn. C. RQxburghii, Schott; Ambrosinia 



unilocularis, Boxb. 



Habit of the last two, with linear lanceolate leaves, attaining 9-18" 

 by 1". Peduncle distinct, clavate upAvards. Spathe gibbous opposite 

 the inflorescence, twisted immediately above, the septum at base of 

 the tAvist, whole length said to attain the length of the leaves (Boxb.), 

 purplish outside, inside deeper f)urple and beautifully dark spotted. 

 Carpels 4-5. 



Singbhum? (see below). 



Although Engler says " Herh. Kew " in his monograph opposite the locality for 

 this .species there is no specimen at Kew and little is known of the species except 

 from Roxburgh's drawing (of which Wight's is a copy). Evgler describes the 

 pistil as 4-g3'nous but Eoxburgh figures it as with 5 stigmas and says ovaiy 

 1-celled. 



A specimen of Cryptocoryne collected by me maj'' possibly be this but it had only 

 one fiowering spathe, the rest in fruit and this belated flowering spathe was 

 perhaps not fully developed : Rootstock stout about 4" beneath the soil. L. with 

 the sheaths about 4" long then spreading flat on the ground for 5-7" (in Soxburgh's 

 drawing they are erect), breadth about -25", fleshy, entire or waved or with small 

 teeth. Spathe twisted almost immediately above the inflor. and limb streaked 

 with purple, 1'5" long. Spadix -3". Ovaries 5-6 combined into an oblong 5-6- 

 celled ovary about 2" long in which the numerous ovules are almost axile, neck 

 ending in 5-6 oblong processes (stigmas?), inside which are (and adhering partly to 

 axi.s) 5-6 small stipitate papillose bodies (stigmas or rudimentary flower's?). 

 Spathe limb smooth inside. Fruit ellipsoid-oblong ovoid-oblong '6" long, 5-celled 

 with numerous seeds on a peduncle over 1" long. 



It is possibly C. Boxbnrghii, Schott with narrower leaves and shorter spathes 

 than usual but the material is insufficient. 



Singbhum in river beds ! Fl. Jan. 



15. PISTIA, L. 



A floating stemless but stoloniferous gregarious tufted aquatic with 

 sessile obovate-cuneate leaves in a rosette. Spathe very small, 

 tubular below, open above, its short peduncle partly sheathed. Spadix 

 adnate to back of the tube of the spathe, free above, bearing at the 

 base a relatively large ovoid 1-celled ovary with conical style and 

 discoid stigma. Male inflorescence of few .sessile connate stamens 

 beneath the apex of the spadix, with a ring of minute confluent 



872 



