Occasional Notes. 129 
colour, as in D. elatum. The tuber throws up a profu- 
sion of small tubers above-ground, each about the size 
of hazel-nuts. The plant is a native of British Guiana. 
This is the plant commonly known in the colony as 
1 labarria bush', from a supposed resemblance of the curi- 
ous markings or mottlings on its leaf-stems to the 
colouring of our most poisonous snake, the labarria 
(Trigonocephalies atrox.) It is a striking plant, not only 
on account of the immense size and great height of its 
generally single leaf but also because of the horribly 
putrid smell of its deep purple arum-shaped flower. It is 
common about most settlements along the lower reaches 
of the rivers. The plant from which Sir JOSEPH HOOKER, 
has drawn his figure and description, is one which I took 
home to Kew, from the Corentyn River, in 1879. 
The Manner of growth of Blechnum [Salpichloena) 
volubile, Klf. — The following is an interesting note given 
me by Mr. JENMAN but omitted, by some unaccountable 
oversight, from the previous number of Timehri: — 
While exploring the forest a few miles behind Bartica Grove on the 
Essequebo river a short time ago we came across a terrestrial fern in 
the barren state that, with some little doubt, we thought must be 
Acrostichum (Olfersia) cervinum, Swartz. The resemblance was very 
close: — there were a few simply pinnate fronds, on longish stalks, to 
each root; the pinnse about 4-jugate, with a long terminal one in 
character with the rest ; the veins simple and connected at their ends 
by a marginal thread. But on digging up some of the plants to bring 
away for cultivation, one of them was found to be connected to a grow- 
ing tree that was growing just over its head by what appeared a slender 
" bush-rope," this turned out to be a climbing frond that had succeeded 
the kind just described, and was twining up the tree mentioned. On 
examining the subject further our conjecture as to the identity of the 
R 
