1696 CXLV. AROIDE^. [Avwrphojyliallm.. 



1. A., galbra (an aboriginal name), Bail. Bot. Bull. vii. " Galbra," 

 (plant), " Jambolla " (inflorescence), Cairns, Cowley. Leaf solitary, expanding 

 to a diameter of over 2ft. Petioles mottled, about 2ft. high, with 2 membranous, 

 sheathing scales, branching at the top into 3 bifurcate limbs which are pinnate- 

 below the first fork, the tiltimate branches pinnatifid, divided nearly to the- 

 rhachis into lanceolate lobes, with long often thread-like points, attaining the- 

 length of 5 or more inches. The veins numerous, parallel, joining in an inter- 

 marginal one rather distant from the edge. Scape about 26in. long, mottled, 

 somewhat resembling the markings of the carpet snake. Spatha about llin. long 

 and about IJin. broad in the lower part, tapering to a rather long acuminate point,, 

 much mottled on the outside with dark coloured spots and markings interspersed 

 with splotches and spots of white. Towards the tip and outside edges lightly 

 tinged with palest purple, inside white. Spadix about 5in. long, of a pure 

 sulphur colour, and a little over iin. occupied by the female flowers, \\m. by the- 

 male flowers, and the remainder by a narrow terminal appendage of a yellow 

 colour, mottled and slightly tinged with green. Inflorescence highly fragrant. 



Hab.: Barron Elver, E. Gowley. 



This is a very shoivy plant and well worthy of garden culture, and the flowers fragrant- 

 Growing with this speei'es is one having a green uiimottled petiole ; this may prove a distinct 

 variety, but so far no flowers have been seen. 



2. A. angustilobum (leaf-lobes narrow), i^ai'Z. " Pun-ti-li," Annan River,. 

 Both. Tubers seen about 2in. in diameter, depressed globose. Leaves on slender- 

 petioles about 12in. high ; the lamina spreading to about Tin. wide, tripartite, 

 the branches diehotomous, ultimate divisions numerous, narrow-linear, mostly 

 under 2in. long and seldom exceeding 2 lines in breadth, filiform at the aj)ex. 

 Peduncle slender, longer than the petiole; sheaths linear about 9in. long and 

 lin. broad, membraneous. Spatha probably 3in. long and narrow, but the- 

 specimens to hand in a bad state of preservation. Spadix (old), seemed- 

 much shorter than the spathe. Berries ovoid, about 5 lines long. 



Hab.: Annan Biver, IP. E. Uoth. 



8. COLOCASIA, Schott. 



(The Greek name for the rhizome of C. antiquorum). 



Spatha with a convolute persistent base, the lamina long lanceolate deciduous. 

 Flowers unisexual, the females at the base of the spadix separated from the males 

 by short ovoid neutral organs without any bare interval, the barren terminal 

 appendage above the males usually very short and sometimes obsolete. Perianth 

 none. Anthers usually 4 or 2, 2-celled (or 8 lOr 4, 1-celled) the cells opening 

 in terminal pores. Ovary 1-celled, with few ovules, on a parietal placenta ; 

 stigma peltate, on a very short thick style, or almost sessile. Berries small,, 

 enclosed in the persistent base of the spatha, with several often numerous seeds. 

 Albumen copious. — Scapes and leaves radical, the lamina often very large, cordate 

 or peltate, undivided. 



The genus consists ef very few species from the warmer regions of the Old World. The- 

 Australian species is widely dispersed in tropical Asia and very extensively cultivated. 



1. C. antiquorum (ancient), &-/io«. Meletem. 18; Prod. Syst. Aiiocl. 138; 

 Benth. Ft. Anstr. vii. 155. Taro. "Pen," Middle Morehead River, Roth; 

 " Pa-nu," Cooktown, Fioth. Leaves ovate, more or less peltate and cordate; 

 often above 1ft. long and broad, the primary veins pinnate and pedate at the 

 base of the leaf, the transverse veinlets arcuate and confluent in the centre of 

 each interval. Persistent convolute base of the spatha ovoid-oblong, usually 

 about Hin. long, the lamina Gin. long or more. Spadix much shorter, the 

 female base f to lin. long, the neutral part shorter, the male portion rather- 



