216 
great size nearly two inches through at the base and tapering up- 
wards, it is smooth and green mottled with white and brown, 
the leaf blade is much dissected, dark green in colour, and is of 
large size. The flower spike appears after the fall of the leaf 
and is enclosed in a large funnel-shaped primrose yellow spathe 
shorter than the spadix and recurved above when fully developed; 
the lowei part of the tube inside is of a deep maroon colour, 
i he male and female flowers are separated on the spadix which is 
terminated by a large primrose yellow cone-shaped process. The 
whole inflorescence is about a foot high. 
The plant is common in Penang, Selangor, Perak, Sumatra 
and elsewhere. The juice of the tubers is, according to Wray, 
acid and causes irritation to the skin, but he was unable to find 
any alkaloid in the juice, and states that the use of it consists in 
-causing local iiritation which hinders wounded animals from 
escaping before the poison has had time to act. The Begung 
mentioned by Vaughan Stevens appears, from a sketch of his, 
to be the same species of Amorphophallus. He says that the 
tubers must be used fresh or they rot, and they are“ pounded up 
with other ingredients and boiled for half an hour. The tubers 
of this as well as other species are eaten after being sliced and 
washed as in the case of Gadong, but apparently not often as 
they are said to have an irritating effect. One species of Amor- 
phophallus I saw being cultivated in Kelantan like potatoes for 
food and others are cultivated in India and Japan. 
Epipremnum giganteum, Scott, “Ringut.”— A large climb- 
ing aroid with oblong leathery leaves one or two feet long 
Common all over the Peninsula. 
According to Vaughan Stevens the fruit is used for mixing 
with the Ipoh. He says, however, that when it is dry it contains 
a dust which, if it enters the eyes produces blindness, and the 
Sakais fearing this seldom gather it. As in the case of many 
Ai oicls the liquid contained in the spathe of the flowers, is very 
irritating to the skin, and it is perhaps the poisonous principle 
utilized or it may be the raphides which abound in the spadix 
which produces the irritation. 
Vaughan Stevens mentions also the use of the sap of “Berar 
Kujang ( Alocasia denudata, Engl.) a common terrestial Aroid 
used by the Menteras for mixing with the Ipoh, and Hon field 
mentions also a plant called Nampong, probably some species of 
tiomalomena as being used. 
Gnetum edule, Bl. { Gnetacece ). — A large woody climber with 
daik gieen lanceolate opposite leaves rather finely nerved. fou<~ in- 
ches long and one across. The fruit is two inches long and 3. inch 
thick elliptical in outline and with a rather rough brown' cerkv 
exterior and is borne on very short spikes, only two or three on 
the spike. I have collected or received it from Singapore, Pahang 
and Kemaman, but it does not seem to be common. The 
large brown fruits make it a very distinct species and it appears 
to be the plant figured by Rumphius (Herbarium Amboinense 
