472 The Cryptogamous Plants of Dr. Roxburgh. 



Stems numerous, succulent, pendulous, 2-3-forked, round, 

 from 6 to 10 furrowed, the leaves being inserted on their 

 corresponding ridges ; about 18 inches long, and towards 

 the base as thick as a common rattan. 



Leaves very numerous, horizontal, subsessile, not verticil- 

 led but in from 6 to 10 rows ; their short petioles have a half 

 twist, which brings their edges in the situation of the upper 

 and under surface of the leaves of most plants, so that in 

 looking down from the top, they resemble so many radii ; 

 their shape is ovate-lanceolate, very acute, smooth, entire, 

 veinless, of a firm rigid texture. 



Spikes terminal, numerous, about 2 inches long, cylindric, 

 simple, or 2-forked, imbricated with numerous, oval, sessile, 

 appressed bractes, or floral leaves. 



Fructification y a reniform, apparently sessile, (I say appa- 

 rently, because there is a pedicel corresponding in length to 

 the depth of the concavity of the capsule,) 2-valved, capsule 

 in the axil of each bracte, they open spontaneously round 

 the convex margins, and discharge much very fine cream- 

 coloured dust, like seed or pollen. I could see no other kind 

 of flowers. 



Rheedes figure Tana-ponel-poatsia Maravara, vol. 12. p. 

 27, t. 14, differs from my plant, in the number of the rows of 

 leaves, and in the spikes being much longer, yet I have no 

 doubt of their being the same. 



2. L. cernuum. Dill, muse, t. 63. jf. 10. 



Shrubby, very ramous. Leaves numerous, subulate, in- 

 curved. Spikes short, cylindric. 



Bellan-patsja. Rheed. Mai. 12 t, 39. 

 Cingulum-terrse. Rumph. Amh. 6, t, 40, jT. 1. 

 Nat. of various parts of India. Is terrestrial. 



3. L. pendulum. R. 



Parasitic, shrubby (1-2 feet long,) pendulous, dichoto- 

 mous. Leaves generally tern, imbricated, appressed, chan- 



