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ALOCASIA 
wider part of the spathe, and they only are mature in the first period. 
From this chamber an attractive odour issues, and the snails are 
admitted by a narrow entrance. In the second stage this entrance 
closes and the anthers dehisce. Snails which creep on to flowers in 
this stage seek vainly for the entrance, and dust themselves with 
pollen, which they carry to the stigmas of younger plants” (Muller). 
Aloe Tourn. Liliaceae (ill). About 85 sp., mostly in Cape Colony, 
and especially on the dry Karroo desert. The plant is usually of 
shrubby or arborescent habit, the stem growing in thickness and 
branching. The leaves are borne in dense rosettes at the ends of the 
branches, and are usually very fleshy, with thick epidermis and some- 
times a waxy surface. From them the drug is obtained ; they are 
cut across and the juice collected and evaporated to the necessary 
stiffness. 
Alonsoa Ruiz et Pav. Scrophulariaceae (11. 3). 6 sp. S. Am. 
Alopecurus Linn. Gramineae (vm). 20 sp. temp. A. pratensis L. (fox- 
tail, a valuable pasture grass) and 3 others in Brit. Fir. protogynous. 
Alphitonia Reissek. Rhamnaceae. 6 sp. New Cal., Austr., Moluc. 
Alphonsea Hook. f. Anonaceae (1). 9 sp. trop. As. 
Alpinia Linn. Zingiberaceae. 40 sp. trop. sub-trop. As., Austr., &c. The 
flr. has a small tubular calyx, a corolla with short tube and three large 
teeth, and a big labellum; the lateral staminodes are much reduced 
or wanting. Anther lobes divided by broad connective. 
Alsine Scop. = Arenaria Linn. 
Alsodeia Thou. (Rinorea Aubl.) Violaceae : 40 sp. trop. 
Alsomitra M. Roem. Cucurbitaceae (1). 11 sp. Indo-mal., Austr., 
S. Am. 
Alsophila Br. Cyatheaceae. About 70 sp. trop. They are mostly large 
tree ferns with naked sori (the only genus of C. with no indusium). 
The pith of some sp. is eaten by natives of Australia, &c. 
Alstonia R. Br. Apocynaceae (1. 3). 30 sp. E. As., Austr., Polynes. 
Leaves in whorls. The bark has tonic properties. 
Alstroemeria Linn. Amaryllidaceae (ill). 40 sp. esp. S. Am. The 
leaves are twisted at the base so that the true upper surfaces face 
downwards (the internal structure is also reversed). The capsule 
splits explosively. 
Alternanthera Forsk. Amarantaceae (4). 20 sp. Am., Austr. 
Althaea (Tourn.) Linn. Malvaceae (11). 15 sp. temp. Old World. A. 
officinalis L. (marsh mallow) and A. hirsuta L. occur in Brit. A. 
rosea Cav. is the holly-hock. 
Altingia Noronha. Hamamelidaceae. 2 sp. China to Java. Like 
Liquidambar. The male firs, are reduced to naked sta., with 
basifixed anthers dehiscing laterally, so that only by comparison with 
related forms can it be shown that the spike of sta. is really an infl. 
and not a flr. 
Alyssum Tourn. Cruciferae (iv. 17). 100 sp. Medit., Eur. 
