1896.] D. Prain — Two additional species of Lagotis. 61 



Endlicher and Meisner both followed their predecessors in referring the genus to 

 the natural order Scrop/iuZttrwca? ; Choisy first placed it in its true natural order, 

 being in this followed by all subsequent authors. In 1776 Pallas mentioned that hia 

 Gymnandra had already been named Gerheria by Steller. This name is also quoted 

 by Choisy; Dr. Ruprecht, however, tells us [_Beitr. Pfianzenk. Russ. Eeic/i. vii. 69 

 (1850)] that the Gerheria of Steller is really a Coptis, not a Lagotis. 



In order that the relationship of the two forms now described to 

 those hitherto known may be more easily understood a key is appended 

 in which are included all the species of Lagotis known to or recoguised 

 by the writer. 



The writer in concluding this note would wish to express his obliga- 

 tion to Mr. Dyer, Director of the Royal Grardens, Kew, who has kindly 

 permitted critical Indian specimens of Lagotis to be compared in Kew 

 Herbarium, and his thanks to Mr. Rolfe of the Kew Staff by whom 

 the necessary comparisons were made. 



LAGOTIS Gaertn. 



Key to the Tcnown species. 

 * Rhizomes elongated oblique, scapes usually as long <»3 

 or longer than the leaves : — 

 t Calyx of two oblong sepals, bracts so large as to 

 conceal the flowers : — 

 X Bracts membranous ; sepals slightly unequal : — 

 § Heads globose ; filaments slender as long 



as upper lip ... ... ... 1. L. glohosa. 



§ § Heads spicate ; anthers subsessile ... 2. L. decumhens, 



X X Bracts herbaceous ; sepals similar ; (heads oval- 

 oblong, filaments slender longer than the 

 upper lip) ... ... ... 3. i. pharica. 



•f" f Calyx gamophyllous : — 



X Bracts smaller than the large spathaceous gale- 

 ate calyx which conceals the corolla ... 4. L. Clarhei, 

 X X Bracts equalling or exceeding the dorsally plane 

 2-lobed calyx beyond which the corolla is 

 far exserted :— 

 O Lips of corolla shorter than the tube : — 



§ Neck of rhizome naked ; (small plants) : — 



^ Filaments adnate to lower half to 



three-fourths of margin of upper 



lip ; flower-heads ovate-oblong, 



leaves smooth, thin ... ... 5. L. cashmeriana, 



«[[ ^ Anthers subsessile ; flower-heads nar- 

 rowly spicate, leaves subrugose ... 6. L. crassifolia. 

 § § Neck of rhizome crowned with persistent, 

 not fibrous, sheaths : — 

 % Basal sheaths thinly membranous 



dull, flower-heads ovate-oblong ... 7. Zr. Stelleri. 



