240 
WIIiLiS ; PODOt^TEMACEÆ 
Harv. MS. in Thw. Enura. PI. Zeyl. 223, Hooke7\ 1. c. ; 
Dicræa apicata, Tul.., Monogr. Pod. 204, Wedd.^ 1. c., Hooker, 
1. c., Warming, 1. c. 
Thallus crustaceoiis. Fruit 8-ribbed. Stamens equalling 
gynæceum. 
Primary axis an erect hypocotyl, 3-8 cm., crowned with a tuft of 
leaves to 5-6 cm. long, linear, hairy (P. Gardner! and D. apicata of 
herbaria), sometimes ultimately floriferous on the hypocotyledonary 
part or among the leaves. Thallus developed at the base of it, to 25 cm • 
in diameter, roughly circular in outline when not damaged, olivaceous, 
reddish or green, crustaceous, irregularly and more or less deeply 
lobed, growing by marginal increase. Secondary axes co , scattered 
irregularly on the upper surface, in the vegetative period consisting of 
a few erect linear hairy leaves, in the flowering period prostrate, 
apiscopic, of 4-8 helmet-shaped bracts. Spathe boat-shaped, dehiscent 
by median line on upper side. Flower erect, on pedicel 2-5 mm. 
long ; stamens 2, on short partial filaments, slightly overtopping 
stigmas ; staminodes almost equalling ovary. Ovary elliptical, covered 
like the pedicel with pellucid deciduous cortex ; stigmas short, subulate, 
upper smaller. Pedicel of fruit to 5 mm. Capsule ellipsoidal, clearly 
ribbed, ribs distinct to apex, one valve deciduous, three ribs of the other 
valve decurrent into pedicel. 
In mountain rivors and streams. Ceylon and Western 
Ghats, common, 1,500 to 6,000 feet. Occurs in several 
varieties and forms, 
H. olivaceum zeylanicum. 
Thallus shallowly lobed, primary axis not floriferous^ 
spathe more or less scabrous, bracts 4-7 ; thallus not 
dying before exposure to air. 
Ceylon. In the Mahaweli-ganga and its tributaries, 
Masnawatte in Ambagamuwa, Ramboda, Gardner ! 
Pundalu-oya, E. E. Green ! Hakinda near Peradeniya, 
Thwaites, C. P. 3,065 ! Willis ! Talawakele, H. F. 
Macmillan ! Ramboda, Harvey (P. Gardner! of 
herbaria, C. P. 2,989) ! Also in the Maskeliya river, 
Trimen ! 
H. olivaceum anamalaiense. 
Thallus more deeply lobed. Primary axis as in pre- 
ceding. Spathe nearly smooth. Bracts 2-8, early 
deciduous. 
