RAPATÉACÉES. 241 
GENERA 
I. SPATHANTHEÆ. 
1. Spathanthus DESVx. — Flores bermaphroditi regulares v. 
subregulares; receptaculo minute convexo. Sepala 3, libera v. ima 
basi connata, late lanceolata, squarrosa, imbricata v. torta, Corollæ 
lubus cylindraceus latiusculus tenuiter membranaceus; limbi lobis 
longioribus late ovatis, tortis v. imbricatis subcorrugatis, demum 
patentibus. Stamina 6, erecta; filamentis brevibus fauci insertis; 
antheris elongato-angustis, superne nunc incurvis, inappendiculatis, 
introrsum sulcatis demumque apice poro obliquo hiante dehiscen- 
übus. Germinis carpella 3, alternipetala, libera v. sublibera adscen- 
dentia; stylo inter lobos gynobasico erecto gracili, apice simplici 
Stigmatoso. Ovula in carpello quoque 2, adscendentia anatropa; 
micropyle extrorsum infera. Fructus carpellum fertile 1; cæteris 
abortivis ; styli vestigio basilari; pericarpio membranaceo, ab apice 
emum 2-valvi. Semen suberectum oblongum obtusum teres, extus 
tenuissime ruguloso-striatellum ; albumine  copioso farinaceo; 
embryone basilari extrario depresse lenticulari. — Herba magna; 
rhizomate perenni in limo radicante; folüis basilaribus elongatis 
Corlaceis distichis ; petiolo basi in vaginam complicatam dilatato. 
Inflorescentia pedunculata spadiciformis; spatha erecta lanceolata 
acuminata complicata ; floribus dense glomeratis confertus; glome- 
rulis in spicam spuriam 1-lateralem secus costam spathæ intus 
Inserlis; singulorum pedicello brevissimo bracteis crebris lincaribus 
calyci subæqualibus onusto. (Guiana.) — Vid. p. 235. 
