On the Comparative Anatomy of certain 
Species of the Genus Christisonia 
BY 
W. C. WORSDELL. 
With Plates V and VI. 
HREE species of the genus Christisonia were invest! 
A gated : two of these, C. bicolor , Gardn., and C. subacanlis , 
Gardn., occur in Ceylon, the third, C. neilgherrica , Gardn., in 
the Neilgherry Mountains of India. They are parasitic plants. 
As may be inferred from their mode of life, they are of 
a reduced or modified type of plant-structure, as regards the 
vegetative parts. These latter consist principally of a branch- 
ing, subterranean, rhizome-like structure, which is perennial, 
persisting from year to year in the substratum, and obtaining 
nourishment by attacking the roots of the Bamboo or 
Strobilanthes , amongst which they penetrate and intertwine. 
From the underground parts are sent up the short stems at 
intervals along the surface, which at first bear scale-leaves, 
and eventually, when mature, a number of flowers at the 
summit (Fig. ]). The growth of the aerial parts is very 
rapid : within a fortnight the seeds are shed and the stems 
and fruits (in C. subacanlis , Gardn., at least) decay away in 
a mass of mucilage. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. IX. No. XXXIII. March, 1895 ] 
