156 Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon* 



florescence. Ovules numerous, attached to both surfaces of the 

 diverging plates of the placentae. Style filiform, included, glabrous : 

 stigma 2- lipped, the upper lip abortive, the lower flat, roundish, 

 yellow. 



Obs. — In habit this comes nearest to the following species, 

 but they are otherwise very distinct. Nothing can exceed 

 the beauty of their flowers when seen growing in clusters 

 of about a dozen together ; and it is much to be regretted 

 that they are not susceptible of cultivation. 



2, Christisonia tricolor, Gardn, 



C. Scapo subramoso squamoso glabro, ramis 1-2-floris, 

 pedicellis ebracteatis, lobis calycis lanceolatis acutis aequali- 

 bus, corolla (rosea) calyce triplo longiore, limbo bilabiato, 

 labio superiore bilobo, lobis denticulatis, lobis labii inferioris 

 subaequalibus vix denticulatis, fllamentis glabris, antheris 

 oblongis, calcaribus deflexis, stigmate oblique depresso- 

 rotundato. 



Hab. — Parasitical on the roots of Acanthaceous shrubs in 

 forests on the Hautane and Rambodde ranges, Ceylon, at an 

 elevation of from 3 to 4000 feet. Flowers in June to August. 



■» 



Descr. — Epirhizal, herbaceous, leafless, glabrous. Stem terete, 

 subramous, about 2 inches long, distantly squamose. Scales ovate, 

 acute, 5 lines long. Flowers 1-2, at the ends of the branches, 

 pedicellate. Pedicels terete, thickened and somewhat angled towards 

 the apex, of a reddish colour, and about 9 lines long. Calyx free, 

 persistent, tubular, 5-angled, glabrous, red, 8 lines long : limb 5- 

 lobed, lobes lanceolate, acute, erect, equal. Corolla hypogynous, 

 gamopetalous, infundibuliform, about 2\ inches long : limb bilabiate : 

 upper lip 2-lobed, lobes rounded, denticulate, of a blood-red colour: 

 lower lip 3-lobed, lobes about equal, scarcely denticulate, together 

 with the outside of the tube of a pale rose colour ; the lower part 



