THE MALAY PENINSULA. 93 
swallow the seed whole and pass the endosperm unhurt. 
The Peliosanthes are inhabitants of thick shady jungles, 
often growing among rocks. They are known by the natives 
as Lumbah Bukit (Hill Curculigo) and Pinang Lumbah (Palm 
Curculigo) from the resemblance of the leaves to those of the 
Amaryllidaceous plant Curculigo, also Tukas Tikus (Mouse Cary- 
ota) and Suludang Pinang. 
‘They do not appear to be used by the Malays medicinally 
or otherwise, but I notice that the flowers and rachis of most 
species contain indigo, turning blue when bruised. These plants 
are easily cultivated in pots, and although not as striking as 
many other jungle plants, are worth cultivating on account of 
their broad stiff leaves and curious flowers. The finest of our 
species are P. a/bida from Perak with a tall raceme of small 
white flowers, and P. violacea with nearly globular violet 
purple almost black flowers. The most beautiful of all known 
kinds is P.—(Zourya) from Cochin China, which has much the 
largest flowers, cream-colored with a black staminal ring. This 
plant has been made the type of a new genus Lonrya, but it 
differs structurally in no -way from any other species of the 
cenus. 
Key to the species. 
Flowers several in each bract. Peta. 
Flowers solitary in each bract. 
Ovary superior. 
Flowers globose deep purple. P. violacea. 
Flowers expanded, green or purplish 
Small, 4 of an inch across. FES RS: 
Large, 4 an inch across. P, lurida. 
Ovary inferior. 
Petals and sepals ovate, flowers small nume- 
rous white. P. albida. 
Petals and sepals ovate, flowers small nume- 
rous yellow. P. grandifolia. 
Petals and sepals linear green. P, stellaris. 
P. Teta Andr. Bot. Rep. t. 605. Bot. Mag. t. 1302. Baker 
Journ, Linn Soe. xvii 505. Hook. fil. Flora British India, Vol. 
Nake = pi 265. 
Roots copious, rhizome short. Leaves four or five, petiole 
slender, six inches long, blade narrowly lanceolate acuminate 6 
