D. verticillaris) BECCARI. THE SPECIES OF DAEMONOROPS. 169 
narrowly ovoid, 3:5-4 mm. in length; the calyx cyathiform, truncate, almost entire, 
or obsoletely 3-toothed, very soon split into 3 parts; the corolla about twice 
as long as the calyx, parted down two-thirds of its length into 3  ovate, rather 
acute segments; staminal urceolum united to the corolla in its lower half, and crowned 
by 6 triangular, rather broad, subulate, thickish teeth; anthers small, sagittate-lanceolate, 
obtuse, slightly shorter than the segments of the corolla; ovary globular; 
style obsolete; stigmata slender, subtrigonous, subulate. Neuter flowers small, cylindra- 
ceous, very similar to the male, but more slender and shorter (3 mm, long). Fruit 
spherical, very shortly umbonate-mucronate, small (11-12 mm. in diam.); scales arranged 
in 15 longitudinal series, rhomboidal, slightly broader than long, shining, grooved 
along the centre, first of a dirty straw-colour and finally reddish-brown with a 
narrow dark marginal line, the tip not produced, obtuse, the margins finely 
erosely-toothed. Seed almost symmetrically globular, very finely tubercled-scabrid and 
convex on the back with a very small punctiform, almost central, round chalazal 
fovea on the raphal side which’ is less convex than the other; albumen ruminate; 
embryo basal. Fruiting periunth almost entirely explanate. 
HanrrAr,— The Maiayan Peninsula, In the interior of Malacca (Gréfith); in the 
same district at Ayer panas {/idley No. 1580 in Herb, Beccari) and at Bukit Sadanan 
Ridley =?- and È>- in Herb. Beccari; in the District of Perak (Scortechini); in the 
same district at Larut between 600-900 m. (No. 6288 in Herb. Calcutt.), and at Goping 
(No. 576 in Herb. Caleutt., King’s ecllector); Negri Sembilan (Ridley No. 3505—Rotang 
chinchin)); at Selangore, Bukit Kutu (Raley, No. 7882 in Herb. Caleutt.); at Johore 
Ridley (No. 10953 in Herb. Berol) In Sumatra: Mandau River, Siak, (Ridley No. 9093 
in Herb. Kew). Malayan name * Rotang Simote” Griff., but probably correctly “ R 
Sumut" or “the ant’s Rotang". 
OBSERVATIONSs.—.À very distinct species easily recognizable by the peculiar arma- 
ment of its sheaths; by its spathes covered with seriate black spiculae ; by its small 
round fruit ete. It is related to D. geniculatus, ard the male spadices of both are 
very similar; the armament of the spathes 1s, however. very different, and so is 
that of tbe leaf-sheaths. The fruits of Scortechini’s and King’s specimens from Perak 
have dirty light-green or straw-yellowish scales; those of  hidley's specimens from 
Malacca and Negri Sembilan are reddish-brown, a difference probably depending upon 
the different degree of maturity. 
D. verticillaris is essentially a myrmecophilous plant, as already pointed out by 
Griffith and probably there exists a counection between the nectar from the bodies in 
the male flowers, the strongly swollen axillary callus at every branching of the 
spadix, and the ant-harbouring galleries round the leaf-sheaths. Ridley Mat. Fl. 
Mal. Pen, ii. p. 187) writes that Martius and Hooker have confused D. veriicillaris 
with D. periacanthus “ especially in the matter of the male flowers, those of the 
latter being described as those of this species.” From what I can judge, however, 
by a large set of specimens at my disposal, the case is quite the reverse, and it 
seems to me that Mr. Ridley has described the male flowers of D. verticillaris as 
those of D. periacanthus Mig. and vice versá. 
Ann, Roy. Bor. Gard., Carcurra, Vor. XII. 
