Commelinece.] 



CHINA. 



219 



Hab. Canton ; Mr. Millett. 



This is very closely allied to P. vaginalis Roxb., but that species has the leaves only 5-7-nerved, and the 

 racemes, after the flowers decay, become recurved. P. ovata, Linn, does not belong to this genus. 



Ord. LXXXIIL RESTIACE^. R. Br. 



1. Eriocaulon Cantoniensis ; rhizomate annua? intra folia parce arachnoidea, scapis 

 strictis glabris 8-12-pollicaribus quinquangularibus quam folia lineari-acuminata vix duplo 

 et quam vaginas pilis raris albidis patentibus adspersse quadruplo longioribus, capitulis de- 

 mum globosis basi planiusculis glabris, bracteis involucralibus plurimis testaceis rotundato- 

 obovatis, interioribus cinereo-albis cuneato-rotundatis apice breviter acuminulatis nudis, 

 perianthio masc. interiore monophyllo tubuloso apice cristato-fimbriato, perianthii fern, 

 laciniis exterioribus duabus anticis navicularibus interioribus angustis integerrimis multo 

 latioribus. 



In the structure of the capitulurn this is very much allied to E. sexangulare, Linn. (Leucocephala spathacea, 

 Roxb. Fl. Ind. 3. p. 613), but the whole plant is much longer; the leaves are larger and broader, and the 

 sheaths, and sometimes the leaves also, are sprinkled with a few spreading hairs. We almost suspect that 

 this is E. quadr angular e of Loureiro (Fl. Coch. 1. p. 77.), but, at the same time, there are several points of 

 difference. In our plant the scape, although always 5-angled, has one of the angles often so much smaller 

 than the others as to appear like a mere nerve along one of the four principal sides; hence Loureiro might 

 easily have supposed it to be only 4-angled. Loureiro's plant, however, seems to be smaller than ours, and 

 may possibly be rather E. quinquangulare, Linn. — We have received it from the neighbourhood of Macao 

 from Mr. Millett, and Mr. Vachell, " J." 



Ord. LXXXIV. PALM/E. Juss. 

 1. Phcenix dactylifera. Linn. — Roxb. FL Ind. 3. p. 786. — Vachell, " /." 



Ord. LX XXV. COMMELINECE. R. Br. 



1. Commelina Benghalensis. Linn. — Lour. Fl. Coch. I. p. 49. Roxb. Fl. Ind, I. p. 171. — 

 C. nervosa. Burm. Fl. Ind. p. l.f. 3. — C. cucullata. Linn. 



The leares are sometimes almost round, sometimes lanceolate, but always obtuse at the point. 



2. Commelina polygama. Roth. — C. communis. Roxb. (omniumque Jorsan de re Bot, 

 Ind. Or. script.) 



Hab. Lappas Island; Rev. G. H. Vachell, n. 83. 



3. Commelina attenuata. Vahl. En. 2. p. 168? 



4. Commelina salicifolia. Roxb.? — C. tuberosa. Burm. FL Ind. p. 16. (var. Linn.) — 

 C. paludosa. Burm. Thes. Zeyl. t. 20. f. 2; Moon. Cat. Cei/L Plants, p. 5. 



Hab. Lappas Island ; Rev. G. H. Vachell, " s." 

 1. Tradescantia paniculata. Roxb.? 

 Hab. Lappas Island; Rev. G. H. Vachell, n. 109. 



