182 Podostemacea. 



numerous, ascending. Style none : stigma sessile, fleshy, 2-lobed, the 

 lobe opposite the stamens twice as large as the other, deciduous. Cap- 

 sule elliptical, scarcely a line long, 8-costate, 2-celled, 2-valved, with 

 a septicidal dehiscence. Placentee flattened, attached to the dissepiment, 

 the whole of which at length become free. Seeds numerous, small, as- 

 cending, ovate, 



Obser. — This species comes near the following, but is 

 distinguished from it by its olivaceous, not grey, color, 

 more numerous and larger scales, the nature of the spathe, 

 and its smaller and less globose capsules. 



3. PODOSTEMON GRISEUM. Gardn. 



P. frondibus decumbentibus suborbicularibus lobatis un- 

 dulatis griseis, floribus e parte superiore frondium exsertis, 

 squamis 6, distichis imbricatis obtusis, spatha sub-bivalvata 

 scabra, capsula 8-costata. 



Hab. — On rocks in the bed of the Pycarrah river, Neil- 

 gherry Mountains, Peninsula of India. Wight and Gardner. 

 Fl. February. 



Descr. — Fronds suborbicular, attached by their under surface to the 

 rocks on which they grow, irregularly lobed, the lobes oblong or obo- 

 vate, over-lapping each other, and forming large Lichen-like patches, of 

 a coriaceo-crustaceous texture, and greyish green color. Flowers soli- 

 tary, arising without order from the upper surface of the frond. Scales 

 about 6, small, distichous, imbricated, obtuse, scaphoid. Spathe clavate, 

 tubular, membranous, scabrous externally, about 2-lines long at the 

 time of flowering, bursting by 2-valves at the apex, and ultimately split- 

 ting nearly to the base on one side. Pedicels cylindrical, at the time of 

 flowering about lj-line long, but ultimately becoming a little longer, 

 covered with a coat of pellucid cellular substance, which falls off after 

 flowering. Floral envelopes none. Stamens 4, hypogynous, unilateral, 

 and external with reference to the axis of the frond, the two lateral ones 

 abortive, complanate, setaceous, the two intermediate ones fertile, In- 

 line long, united nearly to the apex, each fork bearing a single anther : 

 anthers 2-celled, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally, cells distinct anteri- 



