THE SCITAMINEZ OF THE MALAY PENENSULA. 177 
(Dr. Keith). Borneo, Rejang (Dr Haviland). ‘ Bemban” of 
the Malays. The stems are used for making baskets. 
Donaz arundastrum Lour. Flor. Cochinchinensis p. 15. Clinogyne 
dichotoma Salisb, Trans. Hort. Soc. i. 276. Phrynium dicho- 
tomum Roxb. As. Res. XI, 324. Maranta dichotoma, Wall. 
Cat. 6614. M. ramosissima Wall. 6615. 
Stems numerous about 8 feet tall nearly an inch through, 
branches dichotomous terete thickened at the base deep dull 
green, sheaths at the joints lanceolate persistent. Leaves ellip- 
tic base rounded apex acute, petiole thick + inch long, sheaths 
sub-terete no ligule. Panicle 2 to 8 inches long erect or nearly 
so, with few branches. Branches slender zig-zag. Bracts lanceo- 
late involute green one inch long. Flowers white opening one 
at a time, two to a bract. Pedicels short with a small ochre- 
yellow conic gland some way below the ovary. Sepals spathu- 
late the upper one the largest 15 inch long 4 inch wide at the 
top free nearly to the base, the lower ones narrower and more 
acute joined to the corolla tube for half their length. Petals 
linear obtuse. Lip small spathulate apex rounded bilobed with 
a tongue-shaped process in the mouth anda line of hairs down 
the centre. Petaloid stamen 14 inch long bilobed lobes rounded 
4 an inch across. Antheriferous stamen adnate to lip with a. 
slender filament and narrow anther. Cucullate stamen bilobed at 
the apex. Style stout stigma horse-shoe shaped. Fruit globose. 
Common on river banks in thickets. It is called ‘* Bemban 
Ayer.” Johore, Kota Tinggie. Pahang, Pekan and along way 
up theriver. Kelantan, Kamposa. Selangor, Langat. Perak, 
Kinta river (King 831); Ipoh. It occurs also in India, Siam 
(Bangtaphan, Dr. Keith) and the Hastern islands. (Celebes, Dr. 
Koorders). 
Loureiro’s description might very well and even better 
apply to the last species, but he quotes Rumphius’ picture (Herb. 
Amboinense Book 6, t. 7. which is evidently this species. His 
name Arundastrum is quoted in the Flora of British India as 
Arundinastrum. It is Arundastrum in the two editions I have 
here. ‘The plant is much smaller than D. grande but has larger 
flowers. 
