528 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X. 



The plant lias been partially described as ConopJiallus commutatus by Scbott. 

 In Bngler's work on Aracece no mention is made of the leaf of this plant. 

 In Hooker's " Flora of British India " it is stated that the leaf is unknown, 

 and in the Journal of this Society there is a good picture, from an artist's 

 point of view, representing the inflorescence of this plant, with the leaf of 

 another (a) and the name of a third (&), Such then being the present litera- 

 ture of this plant, I need no further excuse for once more inviting your 

 attention to the plant, 



Sheula is abundant on the Western Ghats from Bombay to Kumpta, very 

 common at Matheran, and in Kanara it is called Sooringadel. 



Like many Aroidece it contaiias an acrid principle, but its stalk after 

 maceration in water and due preparation is eaten by people, mixed with acid 

 fruits, such as hoorak {Garruga pinnata), tamarind, &c. 



Specimens of Aroidece are difficult to preserve in herbaria, and it is evident 

 that Schott had scanty materials for his description ; and certainly his 

 materials could not compare with the abundance of specimens available to 

 any one who spends the month of May at Matheran and takes the tubers 

 with him to Bombay or Poona and cultivates them till the leaves have sprung 

 up later in the season. Therefore, I purpose to describe the plant fully from 

 recent specimens, 



Amorpliophallus commutatus, Engler's Arac, 319 ; Hook., Fl, Brit, Ind., 

 vol. vi, 515 ; Conophallus commutatus, Schott, Prodr. 128. Sheula. 



Annual tuberous plant. — Tuber oblato-spherical, about 4 by 2 in,, depressed 

 on the upperside. Several thin rootlets and a few bulbils arise from tho 

 main tuber. The bulbils send up leaves very rarely. Inflorescence appears 

 at the end of May or soon after the first rains, when the smell is very dis- 

 agreeable. Peduncle I'S ft, in length and about f in. in diameter at the base 

 tapering upwards, and variously maculated (light purple and white), and 

 rough from minute spinules, Cataphyls 2 (sometimes 3), pale rose-coloured 

 sheathing the base of the peduncle and ending in an acute point, the longest 

 about 4 in, Spathe leathery, brownish-purple on the outer surface and 

 pinkish-purple on the inner, 6-10 by 2-5 in,, broadest at its middle, rough 

 inside at the base, ovate-lanceolate, acute or accuminate ; margins free, 

 overlapping each other. During the expansion of the inflorescence, the 

 margins are separated except at the base where they form a convolute tube 

 covering the female portion, (c) Spadix sessile, columnar. Female flowers 

 closely packed, occupying J-l^ in, at the base, succeeded without appreciable 

 interval by male flowers about ^-2 in, in height, these being directly 



(a) Sauramatum guttatum, Schott. Prodr. 71. 



(6) Pytlionium WalUchianum, Schott. Prodr, 123, properly speaking Tomsonia Nepalensis, Wall. Phi. 

 As. Bar., vol. I, 83 ,t. 99, The description and drawing given by Dr. Kirtikar do not agree with the 

 plates and descri Ttion of Wallich (see the volume of our Journal above mentioned). 



(c) The specimen on the table is figured from a photograph and cut to show the inflorescence. 



