Mum, FENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA." 4Sil 



rounded, concave, obtuse, two-Iobed, with an intermediate, spear- shap- 

 ed long process ; its direction is ascending and opposite to the outer pe- 

 rianth, scarcely exceeding one-halt of its length ; it is about half an inch 

 bfoad,'6f a remarkably tough fabric, colourless and semi-pellucid, the 

 inside of its base covered with a limpid and insipid gelatine; during aes- 

 livation it embraces tlie two upper filaments ; — the lateral leaflets are 

 linear, almost capillary, spreading, a little shorter than the segments 

 of the exterior perianth, between which, just below the fissures, they 

 are inserted. — Stamina always five with a rudiment of a sterile sixth 

 one, inserted in a simple series round the vertex of the ovarium, as long 

 as the perianth ; filaments subulate, fleshy ; anthers linear, recurved, 

 two-celled, occupying the outer two-thirds of the filaments, with 

 crispate purplish valves, and large, globular, pale pollen. The sterile 

 stamen consists of a short, subulate, sub-capitate filament, conceal- 

 ed under the uppei leaflet of the inner perianth (or the upper lip of 

 the flower) within the base of which it is inserted. — Ovary oblong, 

 indistinctly three-sided, slightly curved, three-celled ; ovula embed- 

 ded in pulp and inserted in all directions. — Style short, tapering, 

 fleshy ; stigma obscurely divided into five or six lobes. — The inferior 

 or fertile (female) flowers, as far as I could judge from the wither- 

 ed remains appeared to agree entirely with those of M. saperba. 

 Fericarp precisely as in that plant. 



Obs. I am doubtful if this plant ought to be considered as distinct 

 from M. saperba, or as an intermediate species between that and 

 M. glauca ; differing from the former in the sheathing petiols, and 

 from the latter in its stature and inflorescence. 1 shall belter be 

 able to determine its character when the plants of it, which I brought 

 down with me, and which thrive very well in the Hon. Comp. bota- 

 nic garden, shall begin to blossom. All these species are extremely 

 grand and ornamental when they have attained their full growth and tire 

 inflorescence has opened, so as to allow of the flowers being seen 

 from without. Soon after this period they gradually decay until their 

 appearance, at the time when the fruit is getting ripe, becomes quite 

 the reverse of beautiful.— The figure of Bruce's Ensete (Travels v. 



