100 FLORA VITIENSIS. 
ceus, and having an extensive geographical range, from the Society Islands to Viti, New Hebrides, and the 
east coust of New Holland, As several points connected with the structure of the plant are still obscure, 
I subjoin Solander’s description, made from fresh specimens :— 7 cae 
“ AcRoRLASTUM (AxpéBAacros, germina in summitate habens). Fl, foeminei superiores totum spa- 
dicem tegentes. Cel. (spathw (potius folia) vage, concave, fohacer, in caule infra flores masculos.) Spadia 
ovatus, simplicissimus, undique tectns fructificationibus foemineis numerosissimis, Perianthium nullum, 
Oor. nulla. Pist. germen oblongum, utrinque attenuatnum, parvum. Stylo capilari, longitudine germinis. 
Stigma simples. Fl. maseuli infra spadicem in superiore parte caulis sparsi. Oal, nullus, nisi folia sunt 
spathacea. Oor. petala quatuor, ovata, obtusissima, cruciata, duo opposita minora, Slam. filamenta nulla, 
eorum antherarumque lovo columna subtetragona, superne convexa ibique exeayata foveis circiter duo- 
decim polliniferis, vl i, re 
“Acropnastum pallens. ‘Ea-owa,’ Tuhitensibus. Hab. in Tabiti parasitica, %. Planta parasitica 
radicum, quoad omnes partes e flavo-albida. Radix bulboxo-tuberosa, magnitudine nucis Juglandis, albida, 
extus scabriuscula, tandem pro seapo vel caule superne aperiens, evadensque cyathiformis seu suburceo- 
Jata, margine inmquali, e eujus centro cavlis unieus subspithameus vel seplus brevior, crassitie pennies 
olorine vel interdum digiti minimi, erectus, simplex, teres, vestitus; jfolis sessiibus, oblongo-ovatis, 
obtusis, concavis, glabris, erassiusculis, sesquiuncialibus, quinque vel sex in singulo caule, basi vaginantibus, 
Fructificatio terminalis. Cul, spatha nulla; folie enim illius loco serviunt. Spadiw simplex, oblongo- 
ovata, caule duplo crassior, magnitudine et erassitie articuli ultimi pollicis, obtusus, densissime tectus flos- 
culis numerosissimis fweminels; infra spadicem in superna parte caulis flores masculi sparsi, remotiusculi, 
distineti. Maseulé flores infra femineos. Perianthium nullum.. Oor, petala quatuor, ovata, obtusissima, 
subtruncata, cruciata, ante explicationem arete eonniventia et fornicata, dein patentia, planiuscula, extus 
glabra, levia, intus striata, farinacea; duo opposita paulo minora, vix lineam longa. Stam. filamente nulla, 
sed earum loco columna e receptaculo parum elevata, crassa, subtetragona, superne convexa, tbique excavata 
foveis circiter 12 vel 15 polline repletis; ideoque anthere propriw nulle. Pollen dispergitur aperiente 
corolla, Pistilium nullum. Flores feeminei totum spadicem tegentes. Cal. proprius nullus. Corolla 
nulla, Pist. germen oblongum, utrinque attenuatum, parvum, terminatam s¢ylo capillari longitudine 
germinis semilineari. S¥igia simplex. 
* Obs.—Jnter floseulos femineos immixta sunt corpuscula brevissime pedicellata, obovata, germinibus 
duplo majora, obtusa, glabra, microscopio inspecta reticulata, superficiem totius spadicis tegentia, germi- 
nibus eniin sunt altiora, intus yiscida, unde nee anthers ob defectum pollinis, forte semina maturescentia, 
Etsi semina mattra nobis non yisa, distiuetum judicavi. Genus ob eolumnam polliniferam, defectum 
spathw proprim, ete.” (Soland. Primitiz Flore Insularum Oceani Pacifici MS., pp. 310, 311.) 
Orvo XLV. TACCACEZ:. 
This Order was thought to be confined to the eastern hemisphere until Parker found a species (Zucca 
Parkeri, Seem.) with simple leaves in British Guiana. The different species have as yet not been worked 
out properly. All those with bipinnatifid leaves are generally regarded as belonging to 7. prnnatifida, 
But that is an erroneous view. The type of 7. pinnatifida of Forster, judging from his specimens and 
his figure, is the broad-leayed species, which Rumphius terms 7. ditorea, from its being always found on 
or near the sea-beach. Forster gathered it in the Society Islands. It has probably an extensive geogra- 
phical range, but that has not yet been accurately traced out. Allied to it, but quite distinct, is Z. invo- 
lucrata, Schum, et Thonn, (7. Guineensis, Don), from tropical Africa, and a species which occurs in the 
Sandwich Islands (Macrae!) is probably 7 Oceanica, Nutt., in ‘American Journal of Pharmacy,’ vol. ix. 
p. 305.* T say probably, because this periodical is not in the Library af the British Museum, and the 
copy of it existing at the Pharmaceutical Society of London wants the ninth and several other volumes. 
Next to this Sandwich Island species, ranges my 7. maculata, a very distinct-looking plant, whilst Z pin- 
natifida, Brown, Prodr,, from the north coast of New Holland, constitutes an additional very distinct 
species (Z’ Brownii, Seem.). Of all the bipinnatifid Taccas 7 Brownii has the smallest leat-segments ; 
they are ovate-acuminate or lanceolate, and minutely dentated; the involuecral leaves are narrow, and the 
a 
* The Pia of the Sandwich Islands grows spontaneously in sunny places, and is also cultivated to a 
considerable extent; it is about 2 feet high, and every part of it is extremely bitter. The fecula obtained 
from its tubers is equal to the best West Indian arrowroot, and is much used by the inhabitants for 
culinary purposes, starehing linen, and various other uses, It sells in Honolulu at about five cents a 
pound; and according to official returns, 13,683 pounds of it were exported in 1845, 10,000 in L846; in 
the three following years the quantity sent abroad was less, but in 1850 it had again inereased,— 
* Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S, Herald,’ vol. ii. p. 85. 5 EET aetna ty 


