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TAB. 7, 



NEPENTHES RAFFLESIANA. 



RAFFLESIAN PITCHER PLANT. 



Nepenthes Rafflesiana, foliis petiolatis, ascidiis inferiorum ventricoso-ciiinpanulatis antice membranaceo- 

 alatis, superioruiii infundibulifonnibus nudis, omnium ore pulcherrime striato obliquo poslice assurgente. 



Jack in Mai. Misc. 3. p. 20. 



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Native of the forests of the island of Singapore, ' 



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The Root is fibrous. Stem ascending at the base, becoming erect, and supporting itself on tlie 

 neighbouring trees; the young parts covered with a deciduous tomcritum or down. The Leaves are alternate, 

 petiolate, the lower ones crowded and lanceolate, the upper ones more remote and oblong; the adult leaves 

 are smooth ; all are entire, have inconspicuous lateral nerves and the middle one elongated into an urn-bearing 

 tendril. The Cirrhi of the lower leaves are not twisted, hut hang straight from the apex : they terminate in 

 large ventricose and highly colored ascidia or urns, fringed along the anterior angles with two membranaceous 

 fimbriate wings, somewhat contracted at the mouth, which opens obliquely, rising much higher and somewhat 

 recurved behind,, where the operculum is inserted. The Tendrils of the upper leaves are twisted into one 

 or two spires at the middle, and terminate in long ascending funnel-shaped urns, flattened anteriorly, but 

 not winged, and gracefully turned at the mouth hke an antique urn or vase. Both have the inverted margin 

 beautifully and dehcately striated, and variegated With parallel stripes of purple, crimson and yellow. The 

 Opercula are incumbent, membranaceous, ovate, marked with two principal longitudinal nerves, and cuspidate 

 behind the hinge. The Hacemes are at first terminal, but the stem begins after a time to slioot beyond 

 them and they become lateral, and are always opposed to a leaf which difters fi'om the others in being 

 sessile, and its cirrhus never having an nrn at its extremity- The Pcdwch are one-flowered, 



MALE. Calyx deeply four parted, tomentose on the outer surface, smooth, red and punctate on the 

 inner, segments oblong, obtuse, reflex. Corolla none. The Stamineous column (Columna staminea) central, 

 erect, thick, red. Anthers numerous, yellow, contorted into a round terminal head, 



FEMALE, Calyx as in tlxe male. Ovarium superior, oLlong, four-sided, erect. Style none. Stigma 

 sessile, peltate, four-lobed. Capsule oblong, somewhat curved, four-angled, deeply furrowed at the sides, 

 four-celled, four-valved, the valves septiferoiis in the middle, many seeded. Seeds long, linear, membranaceous 

 and acute at lioth ends, arranged longitudinally, and affixed by the base to the partitions, 



Obs. This is the largest and most magnificent species of the genus, being adorned with two kinds of 

 urns, both elegant in their forms, and brilliant hi their colouring. It was first discovered with the following 

 species in the forests of Singapore by Sir T, Stamford Rallies, Lieut. Governor of Sumatra, ^vhen he estabhshed 

 a British colony on that island in February 1819- To him therefore it is justly dedicated. Jack in I c. p. 23. 



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