On a Specimen o/Eheum nobile. 89 



country insects abound, and cause fertilisation. Tlie crown 

 of the root is short and thick, and is scarcely visible 

 when the plant is in full flower. The radical leaves are 

 bright green. The stem yields an acid juice. The re- 

 flexed bracts are remarkable both as regards colour and 

 arrangement. They are nearly entire, straw-coloured, and 

 translucent, overlapping each other like slates. Certain 

 portions are of a red colour. Wlien the bracts are turned 

 up the flowers are seen. The plant has a branching in- 

 florescence, with immerous small greenish flowers, having 

 6 equal oblong sepals and 6 stamens. As regards the pistil, 

 the ovary is short and slightly stalked. The styles vary 

 from 2 to 3, and the stigmas are capitate. The achenes 

 are slightly winged. 



The following report was drawn up by Mr Sadler, the 

 Curator, on the 9th of June:: — 



Height of flowering stem — 3 feet 8 inclies. 



Circumference of flowering stem at 3 inches from base — of 

 inches. 



Circumference of flowexing stem at 2 feet from base — 4i inches. 



iSTumber of radical leaves — 5. 



Xumber of straw-coloured imbricating bracts (in the axils of 

 which arise the branching inflorescence) — 53. 



Size of largest radical leaf — lamina, 1 foot long by 1 foot broad; 

 petiole, o\ inches long. 



Size of lowest bract — lamina, 11 1 inches long by lOi broad; 

 petiole, 5 inches long. 



Size of bract at 2 feet from base — 7 inches long by 8i broad ; 

 petiole, 2 inches long. 



Size of bract at 3 feet from base — 5| inches long and 6 inches 

 broad ; petiole, 1 inch long. 



Size of second bract from top — ^ of an inch long and ^ of an 

 inch broad ; length of petiole, ^ inch. 



Longest of the ultimate subdivisions .of the inflorescence — 

 8 inches. 



Circumference of "cone" at 2 feet from the ground — 28 mches. 



Circumference of" cone" of bracts at 4 inches from top — 8 inches. 



Spread of radical leaves — 3 feet across. 



Hooker states that this is one of the most striking plants 

 of the Sikkim Mountains, and different in appearance from 

 ordinary Rheums. He says.: " I first saw the plant fully 

 a mile off on the black cliffs of the Lacker Valley, at an 

 elevation of 14,000 feet." He makes the foUowiDg remarks 



