of them is attended with less difficulty than most others of the Monandrian class, from the singular conformation 
and beautiful diversities by which they are distinguished. Their mode of inflorescence is peculiar, and may 
perhaps be strictly considered as radical, although the scape makes its appearance from a different part in 
different species; in some from the base of the stem, in others from the petioles of the leaves, and in others 
terminally, from the branches. After attending to this leading and permanent distinction, we may have recourse 
to the floral bractes, which are found of almost every variety of shape, globular or ovate, lanceolate or 
lozenge-shaped, lax or imbricated ; besides which, considerable diversities will appear in the flower, both in form 
and colour, as well as in the interior bractes or glumes; one of these bractes is of a very peculiar construction, 
being of a carinate or quadriform shape, inclosing the floret on three sides; but this being, as far as my 
observations have extended, common to the whole genus, cannot be considered as a specific character. The want 
of this will, however, be amply compensated by attending to the leaves and petioles of the different species, which 
afford a greater diversity of shape than perhaps any genus known. At some times these are cut into elliptic 
forms, straight on one margin, and circular on the other; at others the mid-rib divides the leaf into two 
inequilateral lobes, but just before it arrives at the apex changes its course, and directs itself exactly to 
the point. Many of them are of ample dimensions, giving a magnificent appearance to the plants; and it 
may truly be said, that the study of this genus will, from the great singularity and variety of the species, 
and the extraordinary characters which many of them exhibit, be more interesting to the Botanical student 
than many of those of the Monandrian tribe, on which nature has conferred a much greater degree of 
colour and of beauty. 
