v.] REMARKABLE LEAVES. 81 
the rain-water in which small creatures could be 
drowned, whose visits would be detrimental to the 
reproductive organs of the plant.” In former times 
this water was collected by ladies for use as a cos- 
metic; it also had a reputation asa cure for inflamed 
eyes. 
So much for the Pitchers! We think we have still 
some remarkable plants to call our readers’ atten- 
tion to. We have described plants which possess 
no leaves, but we wish now to have a word concern- 
ing one that possesses neither leaf nor stem—being, 
in fact, only a flower! This remarkable plant is a 
native of Java and Sumatra, where it was discovered 
in 1818. Imagine the feelings of Sir Stamford Raffles, 
Lady Raffles, and Dr. Arnold—who were in that 
year exploring the interior of Sumatra—on suddenly 
coming across a gigantic flower over a yard across! 
Such a production had never been heard of before, 
and no little surprise was created when drawings and 
descriptions were sent home to England. To give 
honour to its discoverers, their names were embodied 
in the scientific name given to the flower—thus 
Rafflesia Arnoldi. Were is Dr. Joseph Arnold’s 
account of its discovery :—“I had ventured some 
way from the party, when one of the Malay servants 
came running to me with wonder in his eyes, and 
said, ‘Come with me, sir, come! a flower, very large, 
beautiful, wonderful!’ I immediately went with the 
man about a hundred yards in the jungle, and he 
pointed to a flower growing close to the ground 
under the rushes, which was truly astonishing. ... 
The whole flower was of a very thick substance, the 
F 
