gee at A eS eee Ee eo ate eee we ee ee 
(aie ks ie es ae ae aie Soe y 2 % 
Stirrers : 
160 
MARCGRAVIA umseniara. 
Climbing Marcgravia. 
POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA.—Nat. Orv. MARGRAVIACE. 
Gen. Cuar.—Corolla monopetala, calyptriformis, integra secedens. Calyx 
quinquefidus, segmentis imbricatis basi subcaliculatis. Bacca sicca, oc- 
tolocularis. Semina pulpa nidulantia. 
Marcgravia wmbellata ; foliis sessilibus ovato-ellipticis acutis vix venosis, 
amorum ovatis obtusis, pedunculis umbellatis seepe tuber- 
culosis, bracteis cuculliformibus.—DC. 
M. umbellata, Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 719.—De Cann. Prodr. v. i. p. 566.—Jace. 
Amer. p. 156. t. 96. 
M. scandens, Brown, Jam. t. 26. 
This curious plant i s frequent in the woods of Jamaica; and appears i 
such different Serius: that it has been often mistaken for different plants, 
in the various stages of its growth. It is but a slender weakly climber 
at first, and, as it rises, throws out a few leaves, somewhat of the form 
of a heart, on both sides; these are sustained by very short footstalks, 
and stand always opposite to a number of slender radical fibres, where- 
by it sticks and grows to its os age By these means, the plant c 
tinues its growth, until it gains the , and lays its trunk more Sie! 
modiously over some of the larger branches of the tree ; then it begins 
in the centre 
5 abortive fewer, which assume a remarkable form, 
nests: cath thickened, hollow, with an opening at the insertion upon 
the pedicels: often bearing a flower or an abortive bud near the extre- 
mity. Pedicels 2-3 inches long, thickened upwards, and more or less’ 
tuberculated on the upper side, —- et toes, at the = 3 stall Ca- 
5 aor tesa Se imbricated, erect oon 
ge, and RE a As ext 
ils cigae ome very readil. be mustakiny hen it is in flower, for a 
Miemext heated on hes cle, and Seaakeet 05 the tee, 26 ta: 
