72 II erns ley Two new Trinridaceae , with some Remarks on 
% 
Beccari, Engler, Schumann and others, it presents a wide range of variation 
in floral structure, as here set forth. 
Male flowers. Perianth 4- 6- or 8-lobed, rarely 3- or 5-lobed ; the 
number of lobes not quite constant in the same species, nor in the same 
inflorescence, and sometimes differing in the two sexes. Perianth-lobes 
entire or rarely toothed at the tip (S’, caadata , Pouls.), inappendiculate 
or with terminal clavate, comose, bearded or penicillate appendages. 
Staminodes none. Stamens 2, 3, 4 or 6, opposite the perianth-lobes ; 
filaments none or very short, usually connate and central in the triandrous 
species ; anthers 2- or 4-celled, dehiscing transversely (or longitudinally ?) ; 
connective undeveloped or produced in a long, filiform tail above the 
anther-cells (S. crinita , Becc.). Pistillodes or rudimentary carpels none, 
or three or more, and either similar to the fertile ones or filiform (S. 
andaiensis , Becc.). The external appearance of the male flowers of the 
species just named and those of S. crinita is very similar, but the organs 
described by Beccari as rudimentary pistils are shorter and less finely 
pointed than the prolongations of the connective in .S', crinita. The author 
does not, however, show them separately, as he does the stamens of 
crmita , and Schumann, without discussing the question, cites both 
species as having caudate stamens. f Nuperrime autem cl. Beccari species 
duas Sciaphilae , nempe S. crinitam et S', andaiensem , descripsit, quarum 
connectivum non solum bene evolutum sed etiam in caudam filiformem 
apicem staminum longe superantem abiit, quae ante anthesin circa mediam 
antheram voluta adspectum peculiarem praebet.’ I have not been able to 
check this, but I think Schumann probably judged by the figures only. 
However, Beccari himself was evidently in doubt as to the nature of these 
bodies in S', andaiensis , although his Latin description runs : e £ pistilli 
rudimento in filamentis 3 linearibus e basi tripartita.’ On the other hand 
in the Italian description which follows, he says : ‘ Questo corpo ha 
l’apparenza di un rudimento di pistillo ; ma forse deve, come nella 
S', crinita , considerarsi come una produzione del connetivo delle antere.’ 
In his key to the species, the two in question are placed under : ‘ Floris 
<3 pistillodia 3 vel 1 tripartitum.’ Of course there is the alternative of 
fusion of pistillodes and stamens \ 
Female flowers. Perianth presenting much the same modifications as 
in the male flowers, and either similar to or rarely different from that of the 
male in the same species. Staminodes none, or 3 or 6. Carpels always 
numerous, usually 30 or more, free, 3 -celled, i-seeded, dry or fleshy, 
dehiscent or indehiscent, smooth, verrucose, muricate or papillose ; style 
1 Sir Joseph Hooker describes the male flowers of S. khasiana , as having three subulate pistil- 
lodes, but his original drawings, made from the living plant, show these bodies attached to the 
anthers, as though they were prolongations of the connective. There are no specimens of this plant 
at Kew, the published description having been made from the drawings. 
