268 



PLETHIANDRA. 8AHEBII. 



Frute.v metralis, glaberrimus, ramis crassiusculis fureatis. 

 Folia sessilia, ovato-elliptica, acuminata, ad 30 cm. longa, ad 12 

 cm. lata, nervis lateralibus utrinque 3 vel 4. Flores fasciculati, ex 

 axillis foliorum vetustiorum atque foliorum delapsorum producti, 

 purpurei, diametro 14 mm. Calyx margine aequalis. Petala 6, 

 contorta, obovato-elliptica, obtusiuscula. Stamina plus minusve 28 : 

 filamenta 3 mm. longa : antherae minutissime bicalcaratae. Ovarium 

 6-loculare. 



Sarawak. Plantain singnlam, earn quam ex vivo descripsi, 

 anno 1907 ex sylvis prope Ivuehing, B. K. Saheb in Hortum 

 Botanicum Singapurensem attulit ubi adhuc colitur. 



The species of PletJiiandra appear always to be glabrous: and 

 probably all of them live in the shade in moss on tree trunks or 

 sometimes on rocks, where moisture is constant. P. Beccariana 

 possesses the largest leaves of the genus; for they attain 30 cm. in 

 length by 16 in width. P. Saheoii goes with it in this respect. P. 

 rejangensis has leaves up to 15 cm. by 7 cm. In other species they 

 appear rarely to exceed 10 cm. Xo dimentions for P. MotJei/i are 

 available. 



P. Beccariana also has the largest flowers, thus : — 





calyx. 



petals. 



stamens. 



P. Beccariana . . 



6 mm. 



10 mm. 



10-12 mm. 



P. Sahebii 



3 mm. 



6 mm. 



5 mm. 



P. Hookeri 



5 mm. 



6 mm. 



6 mm. 



P. rejangensis . . 



5 mm. 



5 mm. 



(anthers say 4 mm.) 



P. cuneata 



5 mm. 



7 mm. 



3 mm. 



P. sessiliflora . . 



4-5 mm. 



6 mm. 



5 mm. 



P. sessilis 



4 mm. 



3 mm. 



(anthers 2 mm.) 



The flowers of P. Beccariana are long-pedicelled, the pedicels 

 attaining 2 cm. It seems thus to be the most outstanding species 

 of the genus. 



The petals in Pletliiandra are always 6, and it is probably 

 usual for the ovary to have 6 loculi notwithstanding Sir Joseph 

 Hooker's statement that P. Motleyi has 4 and Cogniaux's that his 

 Medinillopsis has 3. In some species the calyx-teeth are just 

 evident. 



The apical pore of the anthers appears to be constant. The 

 minute spurs at the base of the anther cells are so small that they 

 might be overlooked easily : but there is no evidence that they are 

 general. 



The number of the stamens is variable. To the flower of P. 

 sessiliflora Stapf ascribes 20 ; to P. Beccariana and P. sessilis 

 Cognianx ascribes 20-25: Hooker ascribes up to 30 to P. Motleyi: 

 Stapf states that P. rejangensis has 25-30, P. Hookeri, 26-30, and 



Jour. Straits Branch 



