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XXXVI. On a New Genus of BalanoTphoveiB from New Zealand, and Two New Species of 

 Balanophora. £y J. D. Hooker, 3I.D., F.R.S. Sf L.S. Sfc. 



Read June 16th, 1859. 



Since laying before the Linnean Society my observations on the structure and affi- 

 nities of BalanophorecB *, I have received two additional species of Balanophora, and a 

 remarkable new genus of the Order, which I shall now proceed to describe under the 

 name of Dactylanthus. 



Dactylanthtjs, n. g. 



Dioicum. iJAizoma tuberosum, lobatum. Pedunculi plurimi, squamati, apice spadices plurimos gerentes. 

 Flores in spadices dense conferti, inferiores dissiti. Fl. masc. Stamen solitarium sessile, filamento 

 brevissimo, anthera 2-loculari. Fl. fcem. Perianthium ovario globoso subsessili adnatum, lobis 2-3 

 subulatis, stylo filiformi, stigmate simplici. 



1. Dactxlanthijs Tatlori, H. f. (Tab. LXXV. A.) 



Hab. Nova Zelandia ad radices Fagi et Pittospori montibus prope Wanganui, alt. 4000 ped. {Rev. R. 

 Taylor, M.A.). Nona. vern. Pua reinga (Flos Hades). 



Rhizoma magnitudine pugilli et ultra, tuberculatum, superficie cellulose, pustuUs papillisve nullis, intus 

 sicco rubrum. Pedunculi nuraerosi, 4-6 unc. alti, sicco fragiles, rugulosi, opaci, ferruginei, intus 

 rufescentes, squamis imbricatis laxe tecti, apice in receptaculum floriferum dilatati. SquartKB ob- 

 longae, obtusae, lata basi sessiles, inferiores dissitae, \ unc. longae, brunneae, superiores sensim majores, 

 supremae inflorescentiam involucrantesj 1-2 unc. longae, lineari-oblongas, membranaceae, albae medio 

 sordide brunneae v. rubrac. Spadices (v. pedicelli floriferi) 10-30, conferti, erecti, 1-2 unc. longi, 

 cylindracei v. fusiformes, crassitie pennae corvinae, stipitati, basi nudi v. floribus deformatis bracteolati. 

 Flores dense conferti. Ma-SC. Stamen solitarium nudum, sessile, filamento brevissimo crasso; an- 

 thera adnata, 2-locularis, transverse oblonga, rimis subverticalibus dehiscens, loculis crassiusculis, 

 inferiores in spica imperfectae dissitae stipitatae. Pollen pallidum, globosum. Fl. fcem. sicco nigri, 

 sub j';j unc. longi. Ovarium stipitatum, subglobosum. Perianthium supra ovarium paulo angusta- 

 tum, dein bi-, rarius 3-partitum, a dorso compressum, cum stylo connatum; segmentis respectu. 

 axeos lateralibus, subulatis, inaqualibus. Stylus cylindricus, teres, supcrne paulo incrassatus, apice 

 obtusus. — " Planta viva odorem subgratum Melonis, sed demum ingratum humi spirat." — Taylor. 



For a specimen of this singular plant I am indebted to my friend the Rev. R. Taylor, of 

 New Zealand, who brought a fragment of it to England in 1856, and on my pointing out 

 its probable interest, promised to procure more on his return to New Zealand. This he 

 did; and early ia the present year I had the pleasure of rccei^dng from him a di-ied 

 specimen of the female plant, a perfect male ioflorescence in a letter, and a pen and iok 

 sketch of the peduncle and flowers, with notes on the same. Owing to the gi-eat con- 

 traction of the cellular tissue, and blackening and fragility of the only entire specimen, 

 which was unfortunately loosely packed in a box and much damaged, I have had con- 

 siderable difficulty in so restoring the parts as to enable Mr. Fitch to complete the 

 accompanying Plate, and myself to make the necessary analyses. 



* Page 1 of this volume. 

 VOL. XXII. 3 K 



