1. CoMMELiNA.] 143. COMMELINACE^. 



glabrous pubescent or villous beneath, sheaths -75", margins often 

 bearded. Spathes • 75-1 • 5" long and broad, in crowded heads, rarely 

 solitary, funnel-shaped, i. e. the margins on both sides connate nearly 

 to the top. Capsule obovoid, 3-gonous, 3-valved and -celled, with 

 one seed in each cell about • 13" long and usually somewhat compressed 

 on one side. 



Throughout India, J.D.H. Sikkim Tarai, J.D.H. ! MonghjT, Wall, 8985C 

 (part). Eanchi, Prain ! Hazaribagh (Parasnath), T. Thorns. ! 



This appears to be another case of very closely allied (if not the same) species 

 being widely separated by the number of cells in the ovary and capsule. In this 

 connection I may recall that Clarke in his Commelynacece says : " I have frequently 

 met 3-celled and 2-celled fruits on the same plant, the 2-celled fniits being without 

 a trace of the third cell." This is my experience, and my suffruticosa from Neterhat 

 appears to be this species (if they are distinct) with 2-celled capsules. In a sheet 

 of Wallich's (see above) one scrap only has been called " obliqva " by Clarice, the 

 rest " suffruticosa." I think they are all possibly one collection. In this the 

 f^pathes have long hairs on the faces. 



8. C. suffruticosa, Blume. 



A stout branching and scrambling species with creeping rhizome 

 and fleshy roots. Stems polished, up to '4" diam. with thickened 

 nodes. Leaves large sessile on the l-l-3"-long ciliate sheaths, lan- 

 ceolate finely acuminate with unequal base, scaberulous above, 

 margins scabrid, larger about 7-5" by 2" (in my plant; 3-14" by 

 •75-2", Clarke). Spathes usually much smaller than in the last two, 

 about 3-7" long and broad and usually villous, panicled or clustered. 

 Capsule 2-celled. The seeds are said to be straw-coloured and fas- 

 cetted or with large pits (but I doubt their being ripe). 



Bettiah, Eieronymus (with very long hairs in leaf axils and margins ciliate) ! 

 Monghyr, Wall (part No. 8985C, spathes -7 by -8") ! Singbhum, Clarke (spathes 

 few, -7". Capsule retuse 2-celled)! Eanchi (Neterhat, but spathes -9" by -8*, 

 obtriangular, tnmcate, with very short acumen) ! 



My specimen from Neterhat, to which most of the description above applies, 

 the only one with undoubtedly ripe seeds, is essentially C. obliqua with 2-celled 

 1-2-seeded capsules -17 by -15" compressed on sharply reflexed pedicels; seeds 

 oblong grey with a matt minutely papillose surface, • 15" long, not at all rugose ! 

 If the capsule character be omitted the only distinction left between suffruticosa 

 and obliqua are the smaller more villous spathes and doubtfully the seeds. 



2. ANEILEMA, Br, 



Herbs, sometimes tuberous. Flowers and fruit not enclosed in a 

 large spathaceous bract, in axillary and terminal panicles with ordinary 

 bracts and bracteoles. Sepals 3, membranous. Petals equal obovate. 

 Stamens 2 or 3, filaments naked or bearded, anthers oblong, one 

 usually smaller or larger than the others ; staminodes 2-4, rarely 

 with minute polliniferous anthers. Ovary sessile, 2-3-celled. Ovules 

 1-2-many. Capsule loculicidal, cells 1- or more-seeded. Seeds with 

 a thick hard rugose or pitted testa. 



I. Flowers cymose and panicled : — 



A. Panicles on a leafless scape appearing before or with 



the yoimg leaves. Flowers -75" diam, . . .1. scapiftorum. 



B. Cymes or panicles on the leafy stems : — 



1. Stoxit species with oblong or ensiform leaves mostly 



6" or more. Capsule-cells 3-4-seeded . . 2. lineolatum. 



1078 



