242 
WILLIS : PODOS'I'EMACEÆ 
Capsule stalked, more or less globular, broadly ribbed, ribs more or 
less confluent below apex. Pedicel 3-6 mm. 
Mountain streams in Malabar, Rev. E. Johnson ! 
I know this species only from fragments in the Kew 
Herbarium. Of its separate identity I feel doubtful. Wight 
describes the fruit as smooth ; if this be really the case it 
probably is the same species as that I have named H. 
sessile. I have, on the contrary, found the fruit ribbed 
like that of H. lichenoides, and opine that Wight relied, 
as elsewhere in this order, on his native draughtsman. 
Some forms of H. lichenoides have the stamens very long 
and the fruit like that of H. Johnsonii, and I think it there- 
fore probable that this species will prove to be synonymous 
with the former, especially as H. lichenoides has sometimes 
a more or less crustaceous thallus, and only fragments of 
H. Johnsonii have been examined. So far, however, as our 
present knowledge of the different forms goes, this species 
is a distinct one, marked by its long stamens, ribbed fruit, 
and crustaceous thallus. Wight’s description of the spathe 
is quite inaccurate. 
H. LICHENOIDES, Kurz in Journ. As. See. Beng., XII., 
1873, p. 103 ; Podostemon microcarpus, Wedd. inDO. Prodr., 
XYII., p. 76 ; P. acuminatus, Wedd., 1. c. ; Hooher in FI. Br. 
Ind. ; Polypleurum acuminatum, Wmg. in Fam. Podost., 
VI., p. 15 ; Podostemon kelensis, Willis MS. in herb, and 
Notes, Trimen, Flor. Ceylon, V., p. 386. 
Thallus ribbon-like, regularly branched. Fruit 8-ribbed, 
anisolobous. Stamens long or short, two or rarely one. 
Stigmas ovate to subulate or obcuneate, usually toothed. 
Primary axis short, with few leaves, non-floriferous. Thallus to 
15 cm. long, much branched. Branches acropetal, alternate, again 
branched with the first secondary lobe on the basiscopicside. Second- 
ary shoots CO at axils and on sides of thallus lobes, in vegetative condition 
with leaves 3-6 mm., in flowering condition prostrate or rarely erect, 
with 4-8 scaly bracts with deciduous tips. Spathe boat-shaped, dehis- 
cent on upper side, the dehiscence sometimes beginning at the tip, or 
forming an upper smaller and lower larger lobe. Flower sessile or 
shortly stalked. Stamens 2, or rarely 1, equalling or exceeding the 
