14 



*6. M. superba, Roxb. Bot. Mag., t. 3849-50. Whole plant reach- 

 ing a height of 10-12 feet. Trunk not stoloniferous, much dilated, 

 7-8 feet in circumference at the base, narrowed to 3 feet below the 

 leaves. Leaves oblong, narrowed to the base ; free petiole, very short, 

 deeply channelled. Spike at first globose, a foot in diameter, finally 

 drooping, a third the length of the trunk ; bracts orbicular, dull claret- 

 brown, reaching a foot in length and breadth ; flowers in two dense rows 

 of 10-15 each. Petal short, tricuspidate, with a large linear central 

 cusp. Fruit oblong, sub-coriaceous, 3 inches long, 1\ inches diameter. 

 Seeds very numerous, sub-globose, angled by pressure, ^-\ inch 

 diameter, smooth, brown. Distribution : — Western Ghauts of the 

 Bombay Presidency. Native name at Nasik, Chavai. According to 

 Dr. Ritchie, this species is stemless on rocks in the Rama Ghauts. 

 Fruits are in the Kew Museum from Travancore (1874) and Trivan- 



1. Pistillate flower. 



Mum superba, Roxb. 

 (Whole plant greatly reduced.) 

 2. Staminate flower. 3. Fruit. 



4. Cross section of fruit. 



