— 77 — 



to 260X150 (P= 1.7.) as by the shining dark-green (304—305) colour 

 and leathery structure and constant form, were in one specimen 6, in 

 anot|ier (from üetas) 8; in the latter the largest leaf was 350X180; the 

 older one of about the same shape, the plant was nearly '/2 high. 

 The ligula is already sufficiently described, (see page 12). 

 The central inflorescence which protrudes far above the sheaths is 

 cylindrical, the coma is not broader than the central portion. In one of 

 the specimens from Getas the 10 comabracts are finely wine-red-striped 

 in another one very light striped pink, the other bracts are varying in 

 nearly colourless, yellowish and rather dark green with somewhat pink 

 top; in the specimen of Mr. V. Z. the bracts were yellowish-green (218) 

 the comabracts 578 D. The bracts are fleshy-leathery, with prominent 

 reticulate veins, broad, with a very bluntly acuminate top at the broadly 

 rounded upper edge. The pouches are longer than the free portions of 

 the bracts, and much broader than the short gutters, formed by these, so 

 that the bracts are far from each other; by bending outwards they seem 

 to be still shorter. The number of the bracts in a vigorous plant was 

 more than 64, placed in 8 parastichies. 



Fruit. The specimens from West-Java bore many fruits; also in the 

 teak-forest of Kepuh near Pasuruan Mr. Backer collected fruits. These are 

 obovate, 13X18 pilose, crowned by the calyx. 



The flower has been described above, see PI. 111. 

 The fruits are obovate, 13X8, thinly hairy, crowned by the base of 

 the décidions villous calyx. The pericarp is membranaceous and pellucid 

 and shows the firstly ochre-yellow afterwards light-brown seeds enveloped 

 by the whitish arillus, filling the loculaments. The thin pericarp bursts 

 irregularly without valves and disappears, while the seeds are found free 

 on the bottom of the pouches swimming in mucilage. 



Distribution. This is by far the most common species of Curci/mo of 

 Java, it grows in the teak forests of all parts of Java, and flowers and 

 fruits abundantly from November until the end of March. By the kind 

 assistance of Mr. Beekman, Director of the Forest-experimentstation I 

 received specimens from Tomo, Tjabak, Randublatung, Ngarengan, 

 Tritik (Kediri). Mr. Backer collected it at Pelabuan-Ratu (Backer 864) 

 and Tjisandawut (Backer 12164) in Pasoeroean (Kepuh, Backer 20960) 

 and also in Madura, Bangkalan (Backer 18952) and Aroobaai (Backer 19251). 

 Mr. VAN Zijp, who was the first to describe it, collected it near Malang. 

 Fruiting specimens from Tomo occur in the Herbarium (Kds 40880 B.) The 

 plant is not cultivated on purpose, though the very young inflorescences 

 are commonly used as vegetables bij the natives. 



Native names: "pnrot," certain name throughout Java, " Kalamaseo" 

 sund in Tomo, West-Java; "Blobo" local name in Ngarengan. 



