Pandanus.'] pandanace.e. 



841 



Anthers 2-celled. Female flowers : Ovaries very numerous, densely packed in 

 a globular or oblong spike or head, with 1 ascending ovule in each. Stigmas 

 sessile on the flat tops. Drupes cohering in clusters in a large cone-like head. 

 — -Stem arborescent, branching. Leaves long, linear-lanceolate, coriaceous, 

 prickly on the niidiib and edges, spreading, and generally closely inserted 

 round the stem in 3 spiral series. 



A considerable genus, limited to the Old World. 



Two species of Pandanus, or Screw Tines, are stated to have been observed in tlie island 

 by Wright, and C/iampion mentions one, but no specimens were collected. Ha /ice had sent 

 some leaves which Seemann has referred, I know not on what grounds, to /*. fasiculaiis, 

 Lam., for they are wholly insufficient for determining the species. 



Order CVI. AEOIDE^. 



Flowers monoecious, or rarely di(i3cious or hermaphrodite, closely packed in 

 a dense simple spike, called a spadix, with a convolute or rarely flat, coloured 

 or leaf-like bract, called a spatJia, at its base. Stamens and ovaries either in 

 different parts of the spadix, without perianth or bracts ; or stamens 6 or fewer 

 round each ovary, with or without a small scale or perianth-segment under 

 each stamen. Anthers usually 2-celled, sessile or on a short filament. Ovaries 

 1- to 3-ceUed, \vith 1 or more ovules in each cell. Stigma sessile or on a 

 simple style. Fruit a berry. Seeds in a pulpy testa, with or without albumen. 

 — Herbs, usually with a perennial rhizome or creeping rarely erect stem. 

 Leaves entire or divided, the veins usually pinnate or reticulate, as in Dicoty- 

 ledons, rarely parallel as in most jMonocotyledons. Spadix often bearing 

 barren organs (abortive stamens or ovaries) above or below the stamens, or 

 ending in a thickened variously shaped barren portion, called the appendix. 



A considerable Order, chiefly tropical, but dispersed also over several more temperate re- 

 gions, especially in the northern hemisphere. 



Stamens and ovaries in separate parts of the spadix or in different 

 spadices. (Flowers unisexual.) 

 Anther-cells terminal. 

 Ovary 1-celled. 



Spadix androgynous. Leaves entire or lobed L Arum. 



Spadix unisexual. Leaves of 3 or more entire segments . 2. Abis.ema. 

 Ovary 2-celled. Spadix androgynous. Leaves of 3 pinnately 



divided segments 3. Amohphopii.m.lus. 



Stamens united, 2 or more together, in peltate or truncate masses, 



with the anther-cells lateral. Leaves entire, large ... 4. Colocasia. 

 Stamens 6 or fewer round each ovaiy. (Flowers hermaphrodite.) 



Perianth none. (No scales or bracts under the stamens.) . . 5. Rhai'IIIDoimioka. 

 Perianth-segments 6 or fewer. (A scale or bract under each stamen.) 

 Spatha concave or convolute. Leaf-veins pinnate and reticu- 

 late 6. POTIIOS. 



Spatha linear and leaf-like. Leaf-veins parallel 7- Aconus. 



L ARUM, Linn. 



Spatha convolute or tubular at the base. Spadix androgynous, the ovaries 

 at the base, the stamens higher up, with barren organs either between the 

 ovaries and stamens, or above the stamens, or both ; the riiachis cndhig in a 



