Podostemacea. 185 



are fertile, about 4-lines long, and united nearly to the apex, each fork 

 bearing a single anther : anthers 2-celled, introrse, dehiscing longitudi- 

 nally, the cells oblong, disunited, nearly of the same size. Pollen yellow, 

 constricted in the middle. Ovary superior, sessile, glabrous, covered 

 with a greenish cellulur substance similar to that on the pedicel, 8-sul- 

 cate, 2-celled. Ovules numerous, ascending. Style none. Stigma equally 

 2-lobed, lobes linear, acute. Capsule obovate, l|-line long, deeply 8- 

 sulcate, 2-celled, 2-valved, with a septicidal dehiscence. Placenta flat- 

 tened, attached to the dissepiment, the whole of which at length become 

 free. Seeds numerous, ascending, ovate. 



Obser. — A very remarkable, and most distinct species, 

 easily recognised by the solitary, subulate, and much elon- 

 gated scale. 



6. PODOSTEMON DICHOTOMUM. Gardn. 

 P. frondibus linearibus complanatis dichotomo-ramosis, 

 ramis versus apicem attenuatis, floribus marginalibus, squa- 

 mis paucis oblongo-lanceolatis longe acuminatis, spatha 2-3- 

 lobata glabra, capsula 8-costata. 



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

 gherries, Wight and Gardner, Fl. in February. 



Descr. — Roots capillary. Fronds linear, much attenuated upwards, 

 dichotomously branched, about six inches long, and of an olivaceous 

 colour, leafless. Flowers solitary, marginal. Scales few, the two inter- 

 nal ones oblong-lanceolate, accuminate, and connate at the base, about 

 1-line long, the external ones linear, complanate, of the same length. 

 Spathe clavate, about 1^-line long, membranous, glabrous,. 2-3-lobed 

 at the apex. Pedicels cylindrical, curved downwards at the time 

 of flowering, and about 2|-line long, but ultimately becoming straight, 

 and from 6-9-lines long, covered with a thin coat of pellucid cellular sub- 

 stance, which falls off after flowering. Floral envelopes none. Stamens 44, 

 hypogynous, unilateral, the two lateral filaments abortive, complanate, 

 setaceous, and about two-thirds as long as the two intermediate ones, 

 which are fertile, about 1-line long, united nearly to the apex, and 

 forming a linear complanate column, each fork of which bears a single 

 anther: anthers 2-celled, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally, the cells dis- 



