XVIII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF KEDAH PEAK. 



VI. Botany. 



By H. X. Ridley, M.A.. C.M.G., F.R.S., F.L.S. 



Lam- Director of Gardens, Straits Settlements. 



| The fulli'j'ing order belonging to the Monocotyledons was omitted 

 in Mr. Ridley's account of the Botany of Kedah Peak. Antea 

 pp. 37-88.] 



XYKIDEyE. 

 Xyris Ridleyi Rendle. 



Mixed with the next species. This was the original 

 locality of this plant. 



Xyris oreophila, sp. nov. 



A tufted plant about 12-18 in. tall. Stems swollen at 

 base. Leaves linear flaccid acuminate 8 in. long .1 in. wide, 

 (No. 6138) or rigid and narrower (5962). Culms slender, 

 terete 8 to 18 in. long. Capitulum obovoid .2 in. long. 

 Glumes brown, oblong, the lower ones truncate, emarginate, 

 uppermost blunt, entire, a paler thickened ridge in the centre, 

 the margin thinner but not scarious. Flowers bright yellow 

 .3 in. long, the tube slender, exsert. Petals broadly oblong. 

 obovate, minutely toothed at the rounded top, .15 in. wide. 

 Stamen? about half as long, staminodes short, plumed, style 

 and stigmas shorter than anthers. Fruit fusiform, dehiscing 

 down one side, seeds numerous, linear cyhndric, narrowed at 

 both ends 1 mm. long. 



Kedah Peak 3000 feel alt. Nos. 5962, 6138, 6139. The 

 specimens of the latter number are evidently from a wetter 

 spot and are shorter and more flaccid. It is a much bigger 

 plant than X. Ridleyi. The petals are described as butter cup 

 yellow. 



