186 Podostemacea. 



tinct anteriorly, but connected behind by a cellular connective, the 

 internal one smaller than the external. Pollen yellow, oblong, constricted 

 in the middle. Ovary superior, sessile, ovate, glabrous, covered with 

 the same deciduous cellular tissue as the pedicel, and falling off along 

 with it, obsoletely 8-sulcate, 2-celled. Ovules numerous ascending. Style 

 none : stigma sessile, deeply 2-lobed, lobes ovate, obtuse, at length deci- 

 duous. Capsule elliptic-oblong, about 1-line long, deeply 8-sulcate, 

 2-celled, 2-valved, with a septicidal dehiscence. Placentce flattened, 

 attached to the dissepiment, the whole of which at length become free. 

 Seeds numerous, small, ascending, flattened, elliptic or elliptic-oblong : 

 testa membranaceous, mucilaginous when moistened, and of a yellowish 

 brown colour. Embryo dicotyledonous, exalbuminous, orthotropous : 

 radical inferior, directed towards the hilum, obtuse, shorter than the 

 cotyledons. 



Obser. — This is well distinguished from any of the other 

 species by its slender linear fronds, which are generally 

 branched dichotomously. The scales which surround the 

 base of the pedicel most nearly resemble those of the follow- 

 ing species, but they are much fewer in number, broader, 

 and not so long. It is further distinguished from it by the 

 fronds not being flexuose, and of a less coriaceous texture. 



7. PODOSTEMON WIGHTII. Gardn. 

 P. frondibus linearibus complanatis flexuosis ad basim 

 ramosis, floribus marginalibus, squamis numerosis setaceis 

 valde elongatis, spatha irregulariter lobata glabra, capsula 

 8-costata. 



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

 gherries, Wight. Fl. in February. 



Descr. — Fronds linear, complanate, flexuose, branched at the base 

 about four inches long, coriaceous, and of an olivaceous colour, leafless. 

 Flowers solitary, marginal. Scales numerous, imbricated, flattened, seta- 

 ceous, 4-6-lines long. Spathe irregularly lobed, glabrous. Pedicel cylin- 

 drical, flexuose at the time of flowering, and about 2-lines long, but 

 ultimately extending to 6-lines, covered with a thin coat of pellucid eel- 



