TARE Ve 
COMMELYNA CLAVATA. 
5. Commelyna clavata, nov. sp. 
Folia subglabra anguste lanceolata. Spathw complicate, basi cordatx, acuminate sparse. Semina 4 aut 2 ru- 
goso-reticulata. 
Tab. In montibus Nilghiri Peninsule Indice ad 3,000-7,000 ped. alt. 
Pedu s inferior v 7 5 . ie S P 5 
edunculus inferior vulgo duos masculos flores gerit. Pedunculus superior 4-5 flores gerit quorum 2-3 saltem inferiores 
perfecti. Ovula 4, bina in duobus loculis superimposita. Semina 4, sed sospe ovula 2 inferiora abortiva ideoque capsula basi angustata 
disperma quasi-clavata evadit. 
Vidi specimina viva spontanea numcrosa. 
This may be merely a variety of Commelyna communis, with the third closed cell aborted as described in Commelyna sali- 
cifolia and below in Commelyna appendiculata and C. Kurzii. I have however never seen O. communis exhibit 5- and 4-seeded capsules 
on the same plant : and the frequent abortion of the lower ovules in C. clavata I have never known to occur in C. communis. Moreover 
it is not usual for C. communis to perfect two capsules in one spathe. 
Commelyna polygama differs much at first sight by its broader leaves and stronger growth: the spathes too are more 
approximated towards the end of the branches. 
that 1 have doubts whether the latter is well separated. 
EXPLICATIO TABULA V. 
Planta ex specimine Nilagirico exsiceato depicta. 
1. Capsula normalis, a facie aut a tergo visa, semina quatuor gerens. 
2. Capsula normalis a latere visa, in pedicello resupinata. 
3. Capsule dehiscentis horizontalis sectio. 
4. Semina quatuor duorum majorum loculorum ab externa facie visa. 
Semina quatuor figure 4, ab interna facie visa. 
on 
vata disperma a latere visa, in pedicello resupinata. 
6. Capsula (ut valgo) cl 
7. Capsula eadem a facie aut a tergo vist. 
8. Capsula eadem, altera valvula amota. 
lum ut in aliis speciebus revera lineare est. 
Semen, quoad formam recte, quoad affixionem fulso aut obscure, depictuin est. 
But the ovary capsule and seeds of U. polygama are so closely like those of C. clavata 
Hi- 
