THE SCITAMINEZ OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 171 
14 to 2 inches across deep polished green, petiole none, ligule 
very sbort rounded. Raceme terminal erect standing at right 
angles to the stem about 6 inches long dense, rachis pubescent. 
Bracts conical cup-shaped acute white, falling off before the 
flower opens. Flowers numerous medium size on pedicels long. 
Calyx spathaceous white $ an inch long. Corolla tube, infundi- 
buliform white, a little longer, lobes oblong pubescent $ inch 
long, nearly + inch wide at the base obtuse, upper one hooded, 
white. Lip about # inch long with broad upturned sides and a 
narrow deflexed apex minutely bifid rather stiff pubescent me- 
dian bar thickened fleshy polished, white with a pale yellow base, 
a bar of deep crimson dots at the base on each side. Staminodes, 
inch long spathulate with a broad rounded apex rather stiff white 
with a patch of deep crimson dots. Stamen filament linear 4 
inch long white. Anther + inch long white a small but distinct 
oblong rounded crest longer than the stigma pubescent, stigma 
capitate green. Capsule cylindric 2 inches long 4 inch thick 
strongly ribbed, brownish ochre colored. 
Kedah Peak in forests; cultivated in the Botanic Gardens it 
flowers in March. 
This is a most aberrant plant. The bracts in the form of 
tall conical caps falling off as the flowers open, the large broad 
flat staminodes and the very curious long narrow fruit make it 
qaite unique. It is very difficult to compare it with any other 
species, but it should probably belong to the Hel/enia section. 
A. involucrata. Griff. Notul. iii. 422. Costus malaccensis Koen. 
Retz. Observ. ili. 71. 
Stems about six feet tall and haif an inch through. Leaves 
oblong acuminate cuspidate 18 inches long by six inches wide 
glabrous above and softly pubescent below, petiole 14 inch long 
purple brown pubescent, ligule bifid to the base lobes oblong 
truncate with hairy edges. Panicle pendulous short. Bracts 
oblong white at first but brown and withered before the flowers 
open. Floral bracts cup-shaped -white $ an inch long, encircling 
two or three flowers. Calyx tubular dilated upwards 2? inch 
long, glabrous with three short bosses representing the divisions. 
Corolla tube thick, upper lobe oblong prolonged to a blunt point, 
14 inch long, lateral lobes shorter, oblong blunt all white pubes- 
