( ) 
As Marcgrave^ and the Authors of the Hortus 
Malabaricus have largely defcribed this Plant, I (hall 
content myfelf with only giving a Definition of this 
GenuSy to make it better known. 
The Mufa is a Liliaceous Plant, with a monope^ 
talous, irregular Flower, incompleat and hermaphro- 
dite, compofed of a Tube, which is filled with the 
Ovary, and a Pavilion divided into feveral Lobes, and 
forming a kind of Mouth. The Ovary, which adheres 
ftrongly to the Tube, is triangular, and crowned with 
five Chives, which grow from the Sides of the Flower ; 
it has alfo a Stile, which is terminated by a little 
Head. It afterwards becomes a foft, angular, long, 
crooked Fruit, fomething like a Cucumher. This Fruit, 
" when ripe, is fleftiy, and divided into three Cells, 
filled with a mucilaginous Pulp ^ under which the Seed 
is placed along a Placenta^ which ferves as an ^xis 
to the Fruit. 
This Seed is fmall, round, edged with an almoft 
imperceptible Leaf. The Flowers grow at the End of 
the Stalk, in Knots difpofed in a Spike. Each Knot is 
loaded with two Rows of Flowers, covered with a 
membranous, hollow, thick, oval Covering, which 
ferves them for a common Empalement. In the Hor- 
tus Malaharicus there are three Plates, which give a 
^ood Reprefentation of the Plant, its Flower, and its 
Fruit; but I have obferved three Defefts in them : 
I. That the Flower is not reprefented in its moft per- 
fect State, but almoft withered, and fo its Pavilion 
too much cleft, which makes the Flower feem tetra- 
petalous 5 for the Flowers of thefe Plants divide when 
they are old, as well as the Leaves, x. That the three 
Cells 
I 
