390 ACCOUNT OF A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS, 



Arnoldi, only, however, in the imexpanded state, is repre- 

 sented in the figure referred to as springing from a hori- 

 zontal root in the same manner as the Great Plower ; like 

 which also it is enveloped in numerous imbricate bractese, 

 as having a perianthium of the same general appearance, 

 with indications of a similar entire annular process or corona 

 at the mouth of the tube, a pustular inner surface, and a 

 central column terminated by numerous acute processes. 

 325] It is therefore unquestionably a second species of the 

 same genus } but the brancla with leaves, which, though 

 separately represented in the drawing, is considered as pro- 

 ceeding from the same root, appears to me, on an examina- 

 tion of the specimen figured, to belong to a species of 

 Vitis : and on mentioning my supposition respecting the 

 Great Plower to Dr. Horsfiekl, he informed me he had 

 observed this second species of the genus also connected 

 with leaves of a different kind, and which seemed likewise 

 to be those of a Fitis? 



Even with all the evidence now produced, I confess I 

 was inclined, on a more minute examination of the buds 

 of Majflesia Arnoldi, to give up the opinion of its being a 

 parasite ; on considering, first, the great regularity of the 

 reticulate base, which, externally at least, seemed to be 

 merely a dilatation of the bark of the root : secondly, the 

 nearly imperceptible change of structm'e from the cortical 

 part of the base to the bractege in contact with its upper 

 elevated margin : thirdly, the remarkable change of direc- 

 tion and increased ramification of the vessels of the root at 

 the point of dilatation ; a modification of structure which 

 must probably have taken place at a very early stage of 



' This second species may be named Rqfflesia Horsfieldii, from the very 

 meritorious naturalist by whom it was discovered. At present, however, the 

 two species are to be distinguished only by the great difFereiioe in the size of 

 tlieir flowers ; those of the one being nearly three feet, of the other hardly 

 three inches in diameter. 



^Isert (in Rsise nach Guinea, p. 283) mentions a plant observed by him in 

 equinoctial Africa, parasitic on the roots of trees, consisting, according to the 

 very slight notice he has given of it, almost entirely of a single flower of a red 

 colour, which he refers to the Linnean class Icosandria, and compares in 

 appearance, I suppose in the young state, to the half of a Pine-cone. It is not 

 unlikely that this plant also may be really allied to Rqfflesia, the smaller species 

 pf which it probably resembles in appearance. 



