298 G. King & D. Prain— On Croftia. [No. 2, 



filiform in place of being short and oblong. "While then Burbidgea 

 deviates from Rhynchanthus in having a lip, the present plant differs 

 equally in having lateral staminodes. And though it comes nearer to 

 Rhynchanthus both as regards structure and as regards habitat than 

 Burbidgea does, it seems to the writers to differ sufficiently in essentials 

 to deserve generic rank apart from Rhynchanthus. 



The necessary diagnosis and description are appended. The genus 

 has been named in honour of Sir Alfred Croft, k.c.i.e., lately Pre- 

 sident of the Society, whose warm sympathy with every branch of 

 Natural Science and of Literature is so well known to us all. 



Nat. Ord. SCITAMINEAE. 

 Trib. Zingiberese. 



Croftia King & Prain • gen. nov. Calyx spathaceo-tubulosus, 

 antice parum fissus, postice oblique breviter 3-dentatus. Gorollae tubus 

 elongatus prorsus angustatus, lobi breves 3, ovato-lanceolati acuti, 

 erecti, postico ceteris paullo ma] ore. Staminodia lateralia falcata 

 subpetaloidea prope basin filamenti opposita erecta dimidiumque 

 filamenti inferius arete imbricatim ampleetentia ; labellum plane obso- 

 leturn. Filamentum elongatum ad styli receptiouem canaliculatum ; 

 antherae locnli 2, parum distantes, connectivo ultra loculos baud 

 producto. Ovarium 3-loculare, placentis axilibus ; stylus filiformis in 

 canali filamenti receptus ; stigma ultra loculos parvum apice fimbriatum; 

 stylodia filiformia. Fructus ovatus pericarpio demum membranaceo ; 

 semina subglobosa arillo cupulari parvo tenui margine dentato basin 

 tantum seminis amplectente ; embryone centrali, lineari, recto. 



Rhizoma e fibris carnosis fasciculatis. Folia ovato-lanceolata vel 

 lanceolata basi cordata, vaginis longis laxis. Inflorescentia terminalis, 

 spicata, subsecunda. Flores singuli bractea spathacea, bracteolis 2 

 inaequalibns, sessiles, lutei. 



Croftia Spectabilis King & Prain. A herb with thickly fas- 

 cicled root-fibres, rhizome very small. Stem 8-10 in. high, leafy. 

 Leaves ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, base cordate, apex acute or 

 acuminate, with lax sheaths 5-6 in. long ; blades 3-5 in. long, 1*5 in. 

 wide, thin glabrous green on both surfaces, rather paler beneath. 

 Spikes 3 in. long, subsecund, 8-12-fld. Bracts thin 'Ih-'d in. long, ovate- 

 lanceolate ; bracteoles '3 in. long linear. Calyx "25 in. pale yellow 

 with red spots. Corolla with yellow tube '65 in. long-, very slender 

 throughout, hirsute externally; lobes - 3 in. long *15 in. wide ovate- 

 lanceolate acute, glabrous on both surfaces. Filament "75 in. long; 

 lateral staminodes '4 in. long, glabrous on both surfaces, falcate, erect, 

 closely overlapping each other and the somewhat produced margins of the 



