MARANTA CUSPIDATA. 
MONANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
SECT. I. CANN. 
Gey. Cuar.—Anther single, attached to the margin of the petal-like filament ; style tubular, revolute ; stigma 
perforate, trilobate; seed one, oblong. 
Spec. Coar.—Stem simple, erect, jointed, pallid, 1-2 feet in height; leaves ovate, acute, cordate at the base, 
cuspidate at the apex, ineequilateral ; mid-rib slightly downy; petioles long, erect; ganglions 
villous; flowers in pairs. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Root fibrous; culm herbaceous, jointed; leaves alternate, broad-lanceolate-acute, cuspidate at the apex, 
inzequilateral, strongly nerved ; mid-ribs slightly covered with a fine down; petioles long, terminating next the leaf in 
a jointed ganglion, slightly villous on the upper side; panicle terminal; calyx superior, in three leaves, lanceolate, 
yellowish, diaphanous; outer limb of the corolla in three lanceolate segments, equal, purple-spotted, erect 
when young, but reflexed as the flower advances; inner limb with a double lip; upper lip in two segments, 
erect, equal, circular, crenate, bifid at the apex, yellow; 
lower lip very short, involute, ovate, orange colour; 
filament erect, petal-like, hooded, 
yellow ; anther attached to the margin of the filament, ovate ; style tubular, 
revolute, covered when young with a secondary, small, proper hood; style perforate, revolute ; stigma obtusely 
three-lobed ; capsule smooth, three-valved, one-celled; seeds single. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This new and ornamental addition to the genus Maranta, was brought from Sierra Leone by Mr. George 
Don, and liberally presented by the Horticultural Society, with several other Monandrian Plants, to the 
Botanic Garden in Liverpool, where it flowered for the first time, in the beginning of October 1826.— 
From its creeping roots it sends up numerous stems of nearly equal height, one of which only is represented 
in our figure. The flowers are of a bright yellow or gold colour. Although this species of Maranta approaches 
in its general habit nearly to Phrynium, it is entirely distinct in its inflorescence and fructification, being 
wholly divested of glumaceous bractes, and having a three-lobed stigma. 
REFERENCES. 
. Intire flower. 
. Germen and calyx. 
. The three sections of outer limb of corolla. 
. The two sections of upper lip of inner limb of corolla. 
. Filament, anther and style, with the under lip in its natural position. 
. The same without the lip, the style covered by its proper hood before it becomes revolute. 
. Style detached from the flower, with its three-lobed anther. 
CANADA SF wo WO 
. Lower lip expanded. All of their natural size. 
