708 



Blume's Flora Javce. 



(vol. xiii. p. 227. )j or to our Magazine of Natural History 

 (vol. i. p. 68.), are already acquainted with the R. ArnoldzV; 

 but for the sake of those who may not be, we shall, from the 

 latter work, give again the cut {Jig. 149.), and a short notice 



of it. It is a parasite, not an epiphyte (see p. 12. note) on the 

 root and stems of the genus Vitxs and allied genera. The 

 flower weighs 15 lbs., and constitutes the whole of the plant, 

 which has neither leaves, roots, nor stem. The flowers are 

 dioecious, and the breadth of a full-grown one exceeds 3 ft. ; 

 the segments of the perianth (a), which are five, are roundish, 

 of a brick red colour, covered with protuberances of a yellow- 

 ish white, measure 12 in. from the base to the apex; and it 

 is about a foot from the insertion of one petal to that of the 

 opposite one; the nectarium (b) would hold 12 pints; the 

 pistils (d), abortive in the male flower sent to England, were 

 very large. Its first appearance is that of a round knob 

 {Jig- 150.) proceeding from a crack or hollow in the stem or 



root. This knob, when cut 

 through, exhibits the infant 

 flower enveloped in numerous 

 bracteal sheaths, which succes- 

 sively open and wither away as 

 the flower enlarges, until at the 

 time of full expansion {Jig. 14-9. 

 a) very few are remaining, which 

 have somewhat the appearance 

 of a broken calyx (c). Three 

 months elapse from the first ap- 

 pearance of the bud to the full expansion of the flower. The 

 female flower differs little in appearance from the male, far- 

 ther than in being without the anthers (e) of the latter. The 



