— 121 — 



though not for the enormous abundance in one and the rarity of fruits in 

 the other of both last named species. 



The fruit though very common in herbaria is badly known. 



1 examined ripe fruits of Z. amaricans, Z. aromaticiim, Z. macradenia, 

 Z. gramineum and young ones of Z. Lörzingü, none of which liave been 

 described till now. All agree in the following peculiarities. (PI. xxi f. 4 — 12). 



They are enclosed between the bract and bracteole, both persisting, 

 the former colouring bloodred in the uncovered part, white or hyaline in 

 the covered ones. The fruit is elliptic or oblong, tangentially compressed, 

 subtrigonous, threecelled, three valved, dehiscing loculicidely, with a longi- 

 tudinal impression (very shallow in Z. gramineum) externally between the 

 cells, i. e. in the middle of the valves, and crowned by the persistent 

 calyx. The pericarpium is thick, in fresh capsules fleshy or more or less 

 cartilagineous, (while turgescent) at last, by drying, leathery, as described 

 Roxburgh ("very thin", K. Schumann). The valves are almost trigonous 

 in the cross section because of the thick septum in the middle. The 

 posterior one is twice as broad as the anterior ones. At dehiscing the base 

 of the valves remains in connection with the axe, while the seeds are 

 carried along with the spreading septs. The capsules of Z. amaricans and 

 aromaticiim are glabrous, smooth and of a pale pink colour, almost 20 mm. 

 long, the dorsal valve 15 mm broad. The seeds are disposed in a single 

 row, 3 or 4 in each cell. 



The dehiscence is not owing to exsiccation, for the capsule is im- 

 mersed in the mucilage which continues filling the bracts after anthesis. if 

 the fruit be quite ripe, a little pression causes the opening which occurs 

 gradually. 



The capsule of Z. gramineum has a similar shape but is longer and 

 more rounded with very shallow impressions 18X13 mm, it is sericeous, 

 pink coloured, the two-rowed black and white seeds showing through the 

 transparent wall. The valves are bloodred internally, longer and more 

 spreading than in the former species. 



The young fruit of Z. Lörzingü is oblong obovate, flat and a little 

 concave at the backside, ventricose at the face, 45X14. sparsely villous, 

 ribbed, attenuate at the top. I saw no quite ripe fruits; in the young speci- 

 mens the pericarp is thick fleshy and becomes leathery by drying. 



The seeds of all species are shining black entirely enveloped by a 

 snowwhite saccate aril!, open and much lacerate at the top, showing the 

 black seedcoat. 



This genus is divided by Horaninow and Schumann into three sec- 

 tions: Dymzewiczia (incl. Pleuranthesis) with terminal spikes, Lampugium 

 with lateral erect spikes, Cryptantliium with lateral procumbent or very 

 short spikes. 



