352 Parasitical Plants. — The Balanoplioraceai. 



brown colour, and the flower-stalks are covered with closely- 

 imbricated scales of a bright red colonr. The only difference 

 between the female flower of this plant and that of Larigsdorffia 

 is that in Thonningia it has a more complete tubular 3 — 5 

 toothed perianth, the stamens are united into one column, at 

 the base of which are a few scales. Specimens of these plants 

 were first brought to Europe by Thonning in 1 804, Yahl exa- 

 mined them, and described the genus, naming it after its 

 discoverer. So far as is known they have no economic uses. 



Of the genus Balanopliora, eight or nine species are enu- 

 merated, bnt in bringing them down to this number, some 

 varied forms or varieties are included as one species. Quoting 

 Dr. Hooker upon this point, it appears these varieties are so 

 numerous that neither colour, form, nor the sexuality of the 

 capitula are constant characters. In the same woods wherein 

 the Doctor gathered P. involucrata var. gracilis, growing upon 

 the roots of oak, he also gathered var. flava, growing on those 

 of an Araliaceous shrub, and differing from the var. gracilis only 

 in its more robust habit. B. involucrata, Hook, fil, grows in 

 the Himalayas at an elevation of from 7000 to 9000 feet. It 

 is, however, common in Sikkim up to 8000 or 10,000 feet. The 

 capitula of this s]3ecies, as well as the stalks, are of a very 

 bright colour, either red, a rich deep crimson, a brightish 

 yellow, or of a purplish tinge. 



Balanophora dioica, Br., B. indica, Wall., and B. jpolyandra 

 are all East Indian species. The first is very common in 

 Eastern Himalaya and Khasia, and is also very variable in 

 form, according to the localities in which it is found. " Spe- 

 cimens of all sizes may be found, from an inch to a foot high, 

 of all degrees of robustness, and of all colours between blood red, 

 yellow and white, or brown." B. polyandra is very abundant 

 on the Khasian and Himalayan mountains, at an elevation of from 

 4000 to 6000 feet. It varies from two inches to six inches in 

 height, and differs from some of the other species in having 

 the capitula always short and sub-cylindric or conical, but like 

 B. dioica it varies much in colour and robustness. It flowers 

 during the months of August, September, October, and 

 November. 



B. elongata, BL, is an inhabitant of the mountains of Java, 

 where it is found at an altitude of from 5000 to 9000 feet. It 

 is also found in Ceylon, and on the mountains of the East 

 Indian islands. It has been found in flower in the months of 

 March, May, and August. B. glob as a, Jung., is found in 

 Burmah, and B. alutacca, Jung., in the Philippine islands. 

 They both flower in April. The first of these t wo species in 

 general habit much resembles .11. indica. The rhizome has a 

 peculiar, crumpled appearance, covered with small tubercles, or 



