It appears, however, that Willdenow, not aware that the Myrosma of Linneus, and the Naru-killa of 
Van Rheede, were generically allied, thought proper to establish a new genus from the latter plant, by the 
name of Phrynium; to which subsequent Botanists have conformed; and in the Lora Indica of Dr. Roxburgh, 
six species are described under that name. The discoveries which have recently been made in the tropical 
climates of America, have greatly increased that number. 
The present plant flowered for the first time, we believe, in England, in the present year, (1826) in 
the collection of Mr. J. H. Masters, Eden Nursery, Stoke Newington, who favoured the Botanic Garden in 
Liverpool with a plant of it in flower, which we have had an opportunity of comparing with a duplicate 
of that preserved in the Linnean collection, now in the Herbarium of the Garden at Liverpool, and find 
them in every respect to agree. That our plant is decidedly a Phrynium, as that genus is now constituted, 
there cannot exist a doubt. Independent of its general habit, which to a person acquainted with this tribe, 
distinguishes it at first sight, the parts of frictification, its glumaceous inflorescence, and carinated quadriform 
bracte, fully confirm the idea. As a species it is sufficiently characterized by its drooping spike, its lozenge- 
shaped bracte, and its ganglions with deflexed hairs, without reverting to further particulars. 
It is observable, that although Willdenow has described this plant as Myrosma canneformis, he has called 
it “ Genus affine Phrynio,” an observation which has been repeated by subsequent Linnean systematic Botanists ; 
but the most accurate account of it is given by Sir J. E. Smith, in the article Myrosma, in the xxivth vol. 
of Rees’ New Cyclop. where it is described from the Linneean specimen: in his own possession, and which 
we shall here give, that the reader may compare it with our present figure. “Stem herbaceous, rather than 
shrubby, clothed in the upper part with fine deflexed hairs; radical leaves several, ovate, acute, intire, three 
or four inches long, smooth, with one rib, and numerous fine, oblique, transverse veins, as in the rest of 
this natural order; footstalks erect, broad, sheathing, striated, three inches long, suddenly contracted at the 
top into a hairy knob, close to the leaf. At the summit of the stem is a larger leaf, from within whose 
much shorter, sheathing footstalk, springs the flower stalk of the same length, bearing a simple drooping 
spike of 8 or 10 flowers, whose broad, pale, imbricated bracteas resemble the catkin of the hop. Each of 
these is about as long as its corresponding flower, and is accompanied by a smaller and narrower internal 
bractea; the corolla seems to be white or yellowish.” 
This description fully agrees with the living specimen now before us, except in the stem being clothed 
in the upper part with fine deflexed hairs. The stem, it must be observed, is no other than the petiole 
of the flower, and the hairs above described are probably those on the knob or ganglion, at the summit 
next the leaf, which perfectly agree in being deflexed; the remainder of the plant is entirely smooth. 
We are further informed by Sir J. I. Smith, that this was one of the plants which made a part of 
the Surinam collection, preserved in spirits, presented to Linneeus by King Gustavus III. “ Linneus named 
it Myrosma, from wmirox, a fragrant balsam, and om, a scent, rather supposed perhaps from its natural 
affinities, than perceptible in the dried specimen, or discoverable in any thing we can find of its history. 
Linnzeus first wrote it Myrisma, from wrbma, anointed with balsam, or unguent.” Although the name of 
Myrosma can now be no longer retained, we may observe, that Linneus displayed his usual sagacity in 
referring the present plant to the genus which has since been denominated Phrynium; and that if Willdenow 
had been sufficiently aware of this, the genus now called Phrynium, would have been denominated Myrosma 
REFERENCES. 
1. Outer bracte. 
2. Opposite carinate winged bracte. 
3. Filament and anther, style and stigma, natural size. 
4, The same magnified. 
