46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



big as the adult human head. 1 have come across several tubers of 

 even larger sizes where the flower-stalk has not appeared, but in due 

 season only the petiole has sprouted out. Blume observes that the 

 scape is almost twice as thick as the petiole. In my experience it is 

 quite the reverse, but this may be merely a local peculiarity. 



With regard to the size of the spathe sprouting from very large- 

 sized tubers, I have this to observe. In tubers weighing from 30 to 40 

 lbs., the spathe assumes an enormous size, and its terminal convolute 

 portion and crimpled margin measure several feet in circumference. 

 I have now before me a large tuber which, when fresh removed from 

 the ground, weighed fully 40 lbs. The convolute portion of the spathe 

 thrown out by this tuber measured 8 ft. in circumference ; the height 

 of the spathe was near 2^ ft. ; the diameter of the middle campanulate 

 portion was 1 foot ; the broadest part of the appendage was nearly 

 of the same diameter ; the diameter of the staminal part was nine 

 inches, whereas that of the pistil-bearing part was six inches. This 

 shows to what an enormous size the tuber and the flower-stalk may 

 develop under cultivation. In the uncultivated or wild variety, which 

 goes under the name of Ran-Suran or Jangli-Suran, the plant is not 

 known to develop to such a size. The wild variety in every part of it 

 is altogether a much smaller plant. 



It must be noted here that the wild or uncultivated variety of 

 Amorphophallus campanulatus is entirely different from the tuber of 

 Amorphophallus sylvaticus* (Kunth), which is also locally named 

 Jangli-Suran, and described by Dr. Dymock under that name in the 

 Pharmaceutical Journal (p. 172, vol. vii, 3rd Series). Dr. Dymock 

 was well aware of this fact at the time he first described this plant, for 

 he has since repeated his remarks in his later works,— viz., " The Vege- 

 table Materia Medica of Western India " and " The Pharmacographia 

 Indica " — that " it is probable the two plants are distinct," for he adds 

 that "it is probable the roots of the wild Amorphophallus campanulatus 

 form a part of the commercial article known as Madanmast^ which is 

 the tuberous root of Amorphophallus sylvaticus peeled, cut into slices 

 and strung upon a string." 



* Synoynms.— (I) Syncmtherias syhatica (Schott.)— Hooker ^ Flora Br. Ind., 

 part XIX, page 617 : (II) Arum silvatioum (Warden and Pedler's article on the 

 nature of the toxic principle of the Aroidecs— Journal As. Soc. s Bengal, vol. LVII, 

 part 2, No. 1.) 



