246 
13. M. corniculata (Rumph. Amboin. V. 130), Lour. FL 
Cochinch. 644; native name in Cochin-China, "Chas bot. Stem 
fe eae 10-12 feet high, as thick as the wipes thigh. Leaves 
oblong, gems 5-6 feet dong; petiole 1-1} feet long. Spike droop- 
ing, only the 2-3, rarely 4 lower bracts and flower whorls 
developed, t» former DUUDo-lincedlsdé: a foot long. Calyx deeply 
five-toothed. Petal ovate-acuminate, nearly as long as the calyx x. Fruit 
cylindrical, a foot or more long, 14—24 inches diameter, narrowed 
gradually to the apex and sessile base, golden-yellow when ripe; skin 
thick ; pulp reddish-white, firm, dry, sweet, very palatable jm cooked. 
Distribution : :— Malay Islands and Cochin China. Kurz compares the 
fruit to a cucumber as regards shape and size and describes five varieties, 
produce only a single fruit large enough for a full meal for three men. 
*14. M. Hillii, JF. Muell. Not dere erous. Stem robust, about 
30 feet high and a diameter of 14 feet. Leaves similar to M. sapientum., 
Spike dense, erect. Fruit densely crowded, not edible. Seeds 
numerous, angled, much depressed, 4—4 inch diameter, with a bony testa. 
Distribution :— Queen sans banks'of the Daintree river, with the two 
species following. A plant at Kew resembles M. Troglodytarum, Linn. 
No doubt this is M. Jacke at Kurz, Le. This species has lately flowered 
at Kew and a description with plate: prepared for the Botanical Magazine 
Fehi, Bertero; M. Fei, Nadeaud. Stoloniferous. Trunk 
cy lindrie al, 15-20 feet high, greenish, full of violet juice. Leaves 
larger and firmer in texture than in M. sapientum and paradisiaca, with 
stouter veins; midrib green; base unequally rounded; petiole 1—13 feet 
long. Spike. long, erect, xs eurved only at the base. Flowers 
6-8 in a cluster, sessile, Calyx with 5 u unequal lobes, split finally 
nearly to the base.  Petal hart: Fruit many in a bunch, oblong, 
angled 5-6 inches long by above an inch in diameter, nearly straight, 
yellow when ripe, with a thick skin and moderately firm pulp, not very 
palatable when raw, but excellent when cooked. Seeds small, dull black. 
Distribution :— Common in the forestsof Tahiti, osa is largely used for 
food, seedless at the low levels, but occasionaily ew ne seeds atan alti- 
tude of 8,000-3,600 feet. Native name Fei. Found also sparingly by 
Vieillard in New Caledonia, there called Daak. We e shia young plants at 
the present time in the Kew collection. Probably the Fijian M, Seemanni, 
F. Muell, of which a photograph, sentby Sir John Thurston, is reproduced 
here from Gard. Chron., 1890 [2], 182, fig. 28, is the same species. 
This is M. Uranoscopos, Seem., and M. Troglodytarum, Kurz (in part) 
We have also leaves from the Rev. T. Powell of a plant from Samoa 
calied * Laufoo," which probably belongs here. An interesting account 
ed the seedless and seed- bearing forms of M. Fehi is given by Dr. Sagot 
n Bull. Soc. Botanique de France, xxxiii., pp. 317- -326. 
6. M. Banksii, F. Muell ; M. d Kurz. Stoloniferous, with 
feat like that of M. sapien Spike drooping. Fruit quite 
rise when dry, without any reels; narrowed suddenly to a slender 
pe 14-2 inches long. Seeds grey, sub-globose, à inch diam., angled in 
mel Jes ite Distribution : lod nsland, Mount Elliot and Rocking - 
shown. 
