Vellozia.] cxxxvii. amaryllide^e (baker). 413 



persistent bases of old leaves black, deeply and narrowly plicate. Leaves 

 of flowering tufts linear, 5-8 in. long, J in. diam., densely pubescent on 

 both sides when young, less so when mature. Peduncle 2-3 in. long, 

 viscous upwards. Perianth-segments lanceolate, l|-2 in. long, J- J in. 

 broad. Anthers less than half as long as the perianth-segments. Ovary 

 oblong-cylindrical, viscous, J- in. long. — Barbacenia (equatorialia, Harms 

 in Engl. Pfl. Ost-Afr. C. 146. 



Mozamb. ]>ist. German East Africa : between Uyui and the coast, Taylor ! 

 Umba River Valley, Smith ! Usambara; Mlalo, Hoist, 24551 



Order CXXXVIIT. TACCACEiE. (By J. G. Baker.) 



Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth superior, persistent ; 

 tube campanulate ; segments 6, subequal, biseriate. Stamens G, 

 inserted in the perianth-tube ; filaments hooded, shortly 2-lobed ; 

 anthers 2-celled, adnate to the inner side of the hood and projecting 

 between the lobes. Ovary inferior, 1 -celled, with 3 parietal placentas ; 

 ovules many in a cell ; style short ; stigma umbrella-shaped, with 3 

 bifid lobes. Fruit in Tacca baccate. Seeds with a minute embryo 

 and copious albumen. — Herbs with a perennial tuberous rootstock. 

 Leaves radical, long petiolate. Flowers greenish-brown, umbellate, 

 with a long naked peduncle, and surrounded by a whorl of foliaceous 

 bracts. 



Species about 10, spread through the Tropical zone of both hemispheres. 



1. TACCA, Forst. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. iii. 741. 

 Characters of the Order. 



1. T. pinnatifida, Forst. Char. Gen. 70, t. 35. Rootstock 

 globose, reaching 1 ft. diam. Leaves large, divided into 3 forked 

 branches ; final segments ovate or lanceolate ; petiole 1-3 ft. long. 

 Flowers many in an umbel, mixed with long slender purple filaments ; 

 bracts 4-0, oblong ; peduncle as long as or longer than the petiole ; 

 pedicels J-1 in. long. Perianth \-\ in. long ; segments ovate. Berry 

 subglobose, f-1 in. long. — Kunth, Enum. v. 458. T. involuci-ata, Schum. 

 & Thonn. Beskr. PI. Guin. 177. T. abyssinica, Hochst, in Schimp. PI. 

 Abyss. No. 1940. 



Upper Guinea. Lagos, Roioland ! Niger Territory : Nupe, Barter, 15-41 I 



Wile Xiand, Galabat : Matamma, Schweinfurth, 595 ! Abyssinia, Schimper, 

 1946 ! Jur : Jur Ghattas, Schioeinfurth, ser. iii. 221 ! 



Xaow^er Guinea. Gaboon River, Mann, 1040 ! 



Soutb Central. Congo Free State : Monbuttn ; by the River Kibali, Schwein- 

 furth, 3027 ! 



nCozamb. Bist. Zanzibar, Hildehrandt, 1285 I German East Africa : Usamb.nra ; 

 Kibafuta, Hoist, 2131 ! Portuguese East Africa : Morambala mountain, near tlie 

 foot and at 1000 ft., Kirk, 20 ! Mozambique, Forhe^ ! British Central Africa : 

 Plains of Zomba, 2500-3000 ft., Whyte ! Sliire Highlands, Buchanan, 4! Mount 

 Mlanje, Scott-Elliot, 8676 ! 



