1904.] D. Praiii & I. H. Bnrkill. — a neiv species from Burma. 185 



We proceed to give a diagnosis of the plant and a list of localities. 



DioscOREA BIRMANICA. UMzoma iiiforme, liorizontale liypogoeum, 

 carne luteo-livida lignosura amariiin, corticis rimis testes testitudinis 

 similius. Caulis armatus, e radice singulus, in dametis sinistrorsum 

 ita volubilis ut sarculos ultimos tangere pedite non licet; sarculi 

 saepissime pubescentes, sed sarculi (pisecipue vetustiores) glabri 

 tamen nonnuuquam occurruntur : caulis vetustus semper glaber. Folia 

 membianacea, alterna, cordata vel late cordata sinu aperto, caudato- 

 acuminata, vel modo caulium primo pubescentia dein supra glabres- 

 centia vel glabra, infra ad nervos primarios spiculis recurvis armata, 

 11-15 cm. longa, 7'5-16 cm. lata, nervis primariis 7-11 (extremis bifur- 

 catis) infra prominentibus supra distinctis, nervis secundaiiis supra 

 infraque distinctis, reti aiiastomotico indistincto : petiolus pubescens 

 vel puberulus vel glaber, armatus, 4-5-9 cm. longus. Spic% depen- 

 dentes, ad axillas foliorum singulee vel binse, 35-45 cm. longae. Spicds 

 masculoe rhachi praster basin sterilem 1-3 cm. longam flores in cymis 

 scorpioideis 5-10 mm. distantibus gerentes : cymae 5-6-flor8e, 1 cm. 

 longae, apicem spicae versus spectantes : bracteae bifariae, alternae, fere 

 glabrae, 1-5 mm. longae, brunneo-lineolatae ; bracteol^e 0. Perianthii 

 masculi campanulati lobi marginibus exceptis externe villosi, brunneo- 

 lineolati, exteriores lanceolati acuti cymbifoimes, interiores ovati acuti 

 marginibus retrorsi. Stamina 6, asqualia, perianthii lobis breviora, 

 filamentis quam antheris longioribus. Sjoicse femmeds flores 20-40 ses- 

 siles alternatim gerentes : bracteae et bracteolag adsunt. Feriantliii 

 feminei lobi iis floris masculi similes. Ovarium densissime pubescens. 

 Fructus stipitatae, stipite 4-5 mm. longo, imbricatae, mox ad caelum 

 versus spectantes, glabrescentes, maturse tamen semper glabrae ; alae regu- 

 lariter semiorbiculaies vel iiregulariter oblongae, 2-3 cm. longje, 10-15 

 mm. latae, apice retus^, basi truncatse vel caneatae. Semina ala mem- 

 branacea inaequaliter circuracincta. — Bioscorea spinosa Wall. Cat. 5103, 

 pro parte ; Hook. fil. El. Brit. Ind. VI. 291 pro parte ; Collett and 

 Hemsley in Journ. Linn. Soc. xxviii. (1890) p. 137. 



Burma. Hukung Valley near the Assam border, Griffith, 5545, 

 K.D. Bhamo District; Bhamo, on land above flood level, Burhill 

 in Herb. R. E. P. 22770 ; hills east of Bhamo beyond Momouk, BurUll 

 in Herb. R. E. P. 21520, 21546. Katha District; Katha, Burkill in 

 Herb. R. E. P. 22499, 22640, 22657, 22659. N"orthern Shan States ; 

 Lashio, BurUll in Herb. R. E. P. 22534, 22578; Manpwe, Burhill in 

 Herb. R. E. P. 22504 ; Hsipaw, Burkill in Herb. R. E. P. 24059, 

 24137 ; between Hsipavr and Mankang, Burhill in Herb. R. E. P. 24140. 

 Southern Shan States; without precise locality, Ahdul Euq; 

 J. II. 25 



