named Rafflesia. 
29 
The first communication from my friend Mr. Jack consisted of 
a description of recent flower-buds, at that time regarded by him 
as hermaphrodite, but which he has since ascertained to be male. 
It is unnecessary to introduce this description here, as it essen¬ 
tially agrees with that already given, and may also be consi¬ 
dered as superseded by the important information contained in 
the following letter, which I have more recently received from 
the same accurate botanist. 
“ My D EAR SlR, “ Bencoolen, June 2, 1820. 
“ Since I wrote you last I have ascertained several particulars 
respecting the Gigantic Flower of Sumatra, additional to those 
contained in the account forwarded by Sir Stamford Raffles to 
Mr. Marsden, and by him communicated to you, which it may 
be interesting to you to know. 
“ Numerous specimens, in every stage of growth, have been 
sent from various parts of the country, which have enabled me 
to ascertain and confirm every essential point. The first and most 
unexpected discovery is, that it has no stem of its own, but is 
parasitic on the roots and stems of a ligneous species of Cissus 
with ternate and quinate leaves : I have not ascertained the spe¬ 
cies*. It appears to take its origin in some crack or hollow of 
fie stem, and soon shows itself in the form of a round knob, 
which, when cut through, exhibits the infant flower enveloped in 
numerous bracteal sheaths, which successively open and wither 
away is the flower enlarges, until, at the time of full expansion, 
there are but a very few remaining, which have somewhat the 
appearance of a broken caljx. The flowers I find to be unisexual, 
which I did not before suspect, and consequently dioecious. 
The male I have already described. The female differs very 
* Mr. Jack las since determined it to be Cissus augustifolia of Roxburgh. FI. Ind.i. 
p. 427. 
little 
