354 Pa/rasitical Plants. — The Balanophoracece. 



to fungi. The generic name is derived from the Greek, ombros, 

 a shower, and phyton, a plant; in reference to the sudden way 

 in which they are said to spring up after a shower of rain. The 

 genera Scybalium and Sphceronhizon follow here in the order of 

 classification. Scybalium fungiforme, Sch. et Endl., a native of 

 the forests of Brazil, being the only described species of the 

 first genus, and Sphcerorhizon curvatum, H. f., the only species 

 of the second. This plant, from the fact of its roots pene- 

 trating only the last year's wood of its prey, and producing 

 no effects in the layers below, would seem to be only of annual 

 duration. 



Phyllorcoryne Jamaicensis, H. f., is found in the savannahs 

 of Jamaica, as its specific name indicates. It is the only West 

 Indian species, and is commonly known in Jamaica as John 

 Crow's nose, but whence the derivation of such a singular 

 vernacular we are unable to tell. The plant is found in flower 

 from January to July. The rhizome or root- stock is branched 

 or lobed, a transverse section of which shows " a thick 

 brown cellular cortical layer, formed of hexagonal cells full of 

 starch granules and chlorophyll, with occasional masses of 

 hard, woody, or sclerogen cells." From this root-stock nume- 

 rous flower-stalks arise, covered all the way up with closely 

 imbricating scales. These flower- stalks, bear large cylindrical 

 or oblong flower-heads. (Fig- 7). 



Rhopalocnemis phalloides, Jung., is undoubtedly the most 

 noble, if we may so speak, of all the Balanophorai. It is 

 found at the roots of trees in the mountains of Java, at an 

 elevation of 7000 feet, as well as in the Khasian and Himalayan 

 mountains, Nepal and Sikkirn, at 6000 to 8000 feet. It grows 

 in shady woods in large masses, and has a very pretty appear- 

 ance, with its pale yellow brown heads only showing above the 

 ground. The rhizomes are of various sizes, from that of an 

 egg to masses as large as the human head. The flower-buds, 

 which spring from the rhizome in their earliest state, appear 

 like swellings, which presently burst forth and reveal the most 

 magnificent flower-heads. u Both males and females expand 

 at the same time, throwing off their cohering bracteal scales 

 in large masses, and exposing a velvety pile of style, and a 

 dense mass of subjacent articulate threads. There are several 

 crops of male flowers which expand successively, and in the 

 dense humid woods in which this genus grows, insect agency 

 is probably necessary to impregnation." A representation of 

 this plant will be found at Fig. 8. 



Three species of Gorynaia are enumerated, namely, O. crassa, 

 Hook, fil, C. sphcerica, H. f., and 0. Purdiei, Hook. til. The first 

 of these is the most imposing plant of the three, frequently 

 weighing many pounds. It attacks the roots of its prey in all 



