Alpinia.] CXXVIII. SCiTAMINE^. 1597 



f line long ; anther nearly 1 line, the connective not produced beyond the cells. 

 Style capillary, with a minute stigma. Capsule ovoid, red, 4 to 7 lines long, 

 opening tardily in 3 valves. Seeds shining, 2 to 7 in each cell. 

 Hab.: Eoctingham Bay, Dallacliy. 



2. A., cserulea (blue), Benth. FL Austr. vi. 265. Leafy stems attaining 

 4 or 6ft. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, often above 1ft. long and 2in. broad, 

 acutely acuminate, shortly petiolate above the sheath, which ends in a broad 

 obtuse erect auricle of 3 or 4 lines. Thyrsus terminal, 4 to Sin. long, appearing 

 almost as a simple raceme when first flowering, but most of the peduncles, 

 though short, developing 2 to 6 flowers, on pedicels of -J- to fin., the whole 

 peduncle usually much shorter. A convolute bract of -J-in. or less under each 

 pedicel or branch, and 2 or 3 long lanceolate sheathing bracts at the base of the 

 panicle, often 2in. long. Calyx narrow, 4 to 5 lines long, usually split on the 

 lower side. Corolla-tube slender, 6 to 7 lines long, lobes oblong-linear, about 4 

 lines long, the dorsal one scarcely broader than the others. Labellum longer 

 than the lobe, broadly orbicular or almost reniform, about fin. diameter. 

 Connective produced beyond the anther in a rounded or truncate appendage, 

 not 1 line long. Fruit globular, indehiscent, about \m. diameter, with a brittle 

 crustaceous blue pericarp. Seeds few, in each cell, closely packed with a small 

 reddish arillus. — Hellenia cceridea, E. Br. Prod. 308. 



Hab.: Common in the coastal scrubs north and south. 



Leaves sometimes infested with the fungus-blight, Fhyllachora alpinia:, C. & M. 



The aborigines in the tropics suck the fruits and spit out the seeds in masses, by \Yhich the 

 line they have gone may be traced. — Bail. 



Var. Arundelliana (after E. H. Arundell), Bail, Proe. Boy. Soc. Ql. xi. 'J'his 

 variety is much smaller than the common form, the margin of the leaves are wavy, and the 

 labellum of the flower, besides being small, is of a rosy-red colour. The fruit only differs in its 

 smaller size. Although difficult to describe in words, the distinction between these two forms 

 is very evident when seen in the scrubs growing side by side. 



Hab.: Eumundi. 



3. ik. arctiflora (flowers crowded), F, v. M. Fragm. viii. 25 ; Benth. FL 

 Austr. vi. 266. " Booroogun," Johnstone Kiver, W. C. Hardinrj. Stems 

 attaining 12ft. Leaves long-lanceolate about Ifft. long and 2J to 4in. broad, 

 contracted into a very short petiole above the long sheathing base. Panicle 

 narrow and dense, pubescent as well as the under side of the leaves. Outer 

 bracts few, rather above lin. long, those subtending the peduncles l^in. long 

 or shorter. Calyx about lin. long, narrow, dilated upwards and acutely 

 3-lobed. Corolla white, pubescent outside, the lobes about 4 lines long, the 

 tube longer. Labellum longer than the corolla, 2-lobed, at least fin. long and 

 broad. Connective produced beyond the anther-cells into a cuneate-obovate 

 appendage of about 2 lines. Style glabrous. Capsule ellipsoid, 3-valved, many- 

 seeded. — Hellenia arctiflora, F. v. M. I.e. 



Hab.: Eockingham Bay, Dallachy ; Bussell River and Freshwater Creek, near Cairns. 



8. MUSA, Linn. 



(In honour of Antonius Musa.) 



Flowers usually unisexual. Perianth of 2 segments, the outer one formed 

 of the 3 outer and 2 of the inner parts, tubular in the bud but open from the 

 base on the lower side, petal-like with 5 teeth or short lobes of which 2 inner 

 ones usually smaller than the 3 outer ; the inner perianth-segment (or third i«ner 

 part) much shorter and usually recurved. Perfect stamens 5, with linear anthers, 

 the sixth either wanting or forming a filiform staminode adnate to the inner 

 perianth-segment. Ovary 3-celled, with numerous ovules. Style elongated 



Part V. Q 



