269 CURCCTMA LONG A 



lias expanded), each flower provided with 2 small, ovate, scaly bracts 

 at the base. Calyx superior, very short, funnel-shaped, bluntly 

 3-lobed, membranous, gamosepalous, yellowish. Corolla gamo- 

 petalous, consisting of an infundibuliform tube more than twice 

 the length of the calyx, and three ovate-lanceolate, acute, erect, 

 rigid, orange- coloured segments, about as long as the tube, the 

 posterior slightly hooded, rather larger than the two lateral ones, 

 which are approximated in front. Andrcecium of 6 portions in 

 two rows ; the three outer petaloid, bright yellow (often described 

 as an inner series of corolla-segments) arising from the summit of 

 the tube of the corolla, the two lateral equal, obovate-oblong, 

 bifid or lobed at the end, overlapping the anterior one, which 

 forms the lip of the flower, and is rounded, deeply bifid, and 

 spreading ; the three inner not petaloid, the two lateral reduced 

 to two small filiform staminodes inserted at the very base of the 

 corolla-tube, the posterior one antheriferous, with a broad fila- 

 ment inserted on the corolla- tube between the two lateral 

 staminodes of the outer row and opposite and at the base of the 

 posterior corolla- segment. Anther distinctly two-celled, oblong, 

 tailed at the base, minutely hairy outside, introrse, connective 

 prolonged into a short beak curved over above the anther. 

 Ovary inferior, globose, 3-celled, with numerous ovules in several 

 rows ; style very long, slender, the upper part passing between 

 the lobes of the anther and concealed by them ; stigma capitate, 

 standing immediately above the anther and beneath the process 

 of the connective. Fruit not seen : of the genus, a dry 3-celled 

 capsule, loculicidally 3-valved, with numerous seeds ; the seeds 

 roundish, with a short arillus and a small straight embryo, with 

 the radicle exserted beyond the radiated endosperm. 



Habitat. This handsome plant is cultivated extensively about 

 Calcutta and throughout Bengal ; also in Ceylon, many of the 

 East Indian Islands, and the Fijis. We have seen a specimen 

 from the Cape of Good Hope. Its native country is probably 

 some part of the Indian peninsula, but cannot now be determined. 

 It was introduced into our stoves so long back as 1759 by 

 P. Miller, and may be seen in most botanic gardens ; it flowers 



