11 



Seeds many, comparatively small : 

 African : 



Hilum of the seed deeply depressed, 



surrounded by prominent edges 



4. M. 1 i v i n g - 





stoniana. 



Hilum of the seed, but slightly 





depressed - 



5. M.proboscidea. 



Indian : 





Flowers 10-15 in a row ; bracts 





sub-orbicular, claret-brown - 



6. M. superba. 



Flowers 7-8 in a row ; lower bracts 





ovate, dull lilac ... 



7. M. nepalensis. 



Sub-genus EuMCTSA, Baker. Stems cylindrical. 



Male flowers many 



to a bract. Fruit generally edible. Usually stoloniferous. 



Dwarf species, with short petiole : 





Membranous yellow bracts and pube- 





scent fruit - 



8. M. lasiocarpa. 



Bracts firmer ; fruit glabrous : 





Stem very short ; many upper flowers 





sterile .... 



0. M. Cavendishii. 



Stem longer ; flowers all fertile 



10. M. nana. 



Tall species, with long petiole : 





Petal small, tricuspidate - 



11. M. glauca. 



Petal ovate, entire : 





Fruit narrowed into a beak : 





Fruit many, smaller 



12. M. acuminata. 



Fruit few, larger 



13. M.corniculata. 



Fruit not narrowed into a beak : 





Spike dense, erect or sub-erect : 





Fruit not edible, ovoid 



14. m. man. 



Fruit edible, oblong - 



15. M. Fehi. 



Spike drooping : 





Fruit with a long distinct 





stipe - 



16. M. Banksii. 



Fruit with a short distinct 





stipe - 



17. 31. FitzalanL 



Fruit sessile, or sub-sessile : 





Leaves firm in texture, 





yielding good fibre 



18. M. textilis. 



Leaves not firm in texture, 



yielding poor fibre : 





Leaves smaller, 





glaucous - 



19. if. discolor. 



Leaves, larger, green : 



Petal as long 





as calyx 



20. M. Basmo. 



Petal shorter than 



calyx : 





Rachis of spike 



pubescent : 





Bracts brov 



»n 



outside 



21. M. malaccensis. 



Bracts yellow 



outside 



22. M. fiava. 



Rachis of Bpike 



glabrous 



23. J/, sapientum. 



