OF CEYLON AND INDIA. 
391 
frequent (see also Prof. Warming’s figures and descriptions 
of Dicræa apicata, which is really the species we are 
now considering, as is elsewhere explained). As a rule, 
however, before January, the season when the plants are 
normally exposed to the air, all these tips have fallen, and 
the buds present the appearance described in systematic 
works, and shown in PI. XXXYI., fig. 1, which represents one 
bud with the flower just exposed by the longitudinal splitting 
of the upper surface of the spathe. At this period also, 
as has been already mentioned, the primary axes are mostly 
more or less complet- ly disorganized, and the thalli them- 
selves have lost their simplicity of form to a very large 
extent, so that when the final stage in the life-history is 
reached, the plant presents very few salient features giving 
any clue to the somewhat complex development through 
which it has gone, and a description of it from specimens 
collected at this time is almost certain to err in many points, 
and to give no idea of the real appearance of the plant when 
actually in the course of its growth. 
The spathes split on contact with the air, and in a few 
hours the flowers have emerged and are standing erect on 
short stalks, ready for fertilization (PI. XXXVI., fig. 2). Like 
those of the preceding forms, they are wind-fertilized, and 
apparently largely autogamous ; the pollen is loose and 
powdery, and may be seen blowing out of the anthers in 
every gust of wind. 
The fruit ripens rapidly, and in about a week after fertili- 
zation the seeds may be shed. The thallus appears to be 
able to live exposed to the air for a considerable time, but 
ultimately dies if not again submerged. 
Before leaving the consideration of this plant, a brief 
description must be given of the very curious monstrosity 
figured in PI. XXXYI., fig. 5. This was found on 20th July, 
1898, among some seedlings. The primary axis has been 
bent down, to show the rest clearly. The thallus is rather 
thick, folded up into a kind of Y shape, and with a large 
number of growing points round the margin, which in the 
