HOMALOMENA. 



1287. H. aromatica Schott meletem. 20. Calla aromatica 

 Roxb.fl. ind. iii. 513. Chittagong. 



Tubers invested with the withered sheaths of the leaves, with 

 numerous, long, white, fibrous cords issuing from every part. Stem 

 short. Leaves radical, long-stalked, in shape between cordate and 

 sagittate, acuminate, lucid ; lobes rounded and rather remote from each 

 other, in length about 12 inches, and little more than half that in breadth ; 

 petioles smooth, with a sheathing base. Spathes many together, from 

 the axils and centre of the leaves, scarcely half the length of the 

 petioles. Spathe somewhat cylindrical, rather obtuse, with a point, 

 smooth on both sides, pale greenish yellow. Spadix sub-cylindrical, 

 obtuse, rather longer than the spathe ; the upper two thirds covered 

 with sessile, many-celled anthers ; the lower third with the ovaries in- 

 termixed with about as many abortive stamens as there are ovaries. 

 Style 0. Stigma 2 or 3-lobed. Berries oblong, not unlike a large ber- 

 bery, and rarely containing more than a single seed. When cut this 

 diffuses a pleasant aromatic scent, something like that of Zingiberaceae. 

 The medicinal virtues of the rhizoma are in high estimation among the 

 natives of India; it sells from 10 to 16 rupees the maund. Roxb. 



SCINDAPSUS. 



Spathe gaping, afterwards fully expanded, deciduous. Spadix 

 sessile ? at the base, ^elsewhere. Ovaries 1 -celled, with 1-2 

 cells attached to the bottom ; stigma sessile, oblong. 



1288. S. officinalis Schott meletem. 21. Pothos officinalis 

 Roxb.fi. ind. i. 431. Bengal. 



Stem perennial, creeping up to the top of large trees, and like the 

 Ivy, taking firm hold with its innumerable roots ; about as thick as the 

 little finger, smooth, except when scarred by the fallen leaves, and by 

 the roots from the side next the tree which supports it. Leaves alter- 

 nate, sub-bifarious, stalked, oblong-cordate, entire, pointed, smooth on 

 both sides ; from 6 to 10 inches long, and from 3 to 6 broad ; petioles 

 sheathing, channelled, smooth, shorter than the leaves. Peduncles 

 terminal, solitary, round, smooth, scarcely half the length of the petioles ; 

 when in flower erect, but often drooping, from the increasing weight of 

 the fruit. Spathe nearly cylindrical, about 6 inches long, opening a 

 little on one side : when in flower, smooth on both sides ; greenish 

 without, and of a pale yellow colour within ; apex filiform, and a little 

 twisted. Spadix nearly cylindrical, obtuse, as long as the spathe, pale 

 greenish yellow, dotted with the dark-coloured stigmas of the numerous 

 ovaries which everywhere cover it. Flowers naked. Filaments about 

 8 to each ovary, 2 on each face ; very short, as if inserted on the base 

 of the ovary ; anthers sub-sagittate, 4-lobed. Ovaries numerous, trun- 

 cate, completely covering every part of the cylindrical spadix, 1-celled, 

 with 1 seed attached in an oblique manner to the bottom of the cell. 

 The substance of the ovary is replete with rigid, sharp, vertical bristles, 

 which are readily detached, and stick in the skin, causing pain and 

 itching. Stigma, a channel filled with gelatinous matter, running from 

 the cell of the ovary to the centre of the truncate apex, where it ends 

 in a small slit, embraced by 2 darker-coloured, somewhat callous lips. 

 Pericarps chiefly sterile, soft, fleshy, 1 -celled, 1-valved ; when the fruit 

 is ripe they detach themselves from the spadix, and drop off, leaving 

 605 



