8 Descriptions of Malayan Plants, 



Obs» — It is a small delicate species, growing in moist hollows 

 on the sides of the hills and among the forests in most parts 

 of Sumatra. The ciliary lines of hairs on the upper surface 

 of the leaves distinguish it from most of its congeners. 



II. HYPOXIDEiE. 



CURCULIGO SUMATRANA. Roxb. 



Hexandria Monogynia, 



Foliis lato-lanceolatis plicatis glabris, spicis densis brevi- 

 bus, tubo perianthii bacca longiore. 

 Involucrum. Rumph, Amb' m» p. 114. t, 53. 

 Kalapa puyu. Malay, 

 Sumatra and Pulo Pinang. 



Root composed of fibres proceeding from a tuber. Leaves 

 radical, petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, attenuated to 

 the base, plicato-nervose, very entire, smooth. Petioles 

 erect, channeled above, keeled beneath, sheathing at the 

 base. Spikes radical from among the sheaths of the pe- 

 tioles, erect, dense, much shorter than the petioles. Flow- 

 ers erect, sessile, adpressed to the rachis, each furnished 

 with an ovate, acuminate, membranaceous spathe. Calyx 

 none. Corolla yellow, superior, limb spreading six parted, 

 laciniae lanceolate acute, tube impervious, being a thick 

 solid column on the summit of the germ en. Stamina six, 

 erect, opposite to the laciniae of the corolla. Anthers linear. 

 Style short. Ovarium 3-celled, many-seeded. Capsule bac- 

 cate, ovate, three-sided, containing from 8 to 10 ovate black 

 seeds which are imbedded in pulp. 



I found at Singapore another species agreeing in most 

 respects with this, but having hirsute leaves. 



