Refugium Botanicum. | [ November, 1871. 
TAB. 311. 
Natural Order MaranTace. 
Genus CALATHEA, G. I”. Meyer. 
C. vestita (Baker). Acaulis foliis longe petiolatis late lanceolatis 
glabris 12—15 poll. longis ad apicem acutum et basin cunea- 
tam sensim angustatis supra viridibus subtus rubro-purpureis, 
pedunculis brevibus radicalibus pubescentibus, floribus in 
spicam oblongam congestis, bracteis deltoideis pubescentibus 
rubro-viridibus arcte imbricatis, floribus geminis, perianthiu 
segmentis exterioribus parvis calycinis linearibus, interioribus 
flavidis lanceolatis dimidio inferiore in tubum cylindricum 
connatis, staminodis 2 exterioribus obovato-navicularibus seg- 
mentis corollinis equilongis, tertio interiore cucullato breviore. 
Sent from Bahia by Mr. Reed. 
Acaulescent. Petioles fifteen to eighteen inches long, slabrous, 
subterete, green mottled with purple. Leaf broad-lanceolate, 
twelve to fifteen inches long, three to four inches broad below 
the middle, narrowed gradually to an acute point and a cuneate 
base, moderately firm in texture, bright green above, a uniform 
bright reddish purple on the under surface, with numerous 
erecto-patent translucent veins. lowers in dense oblong heads 
on stout hairy radical peduncles three to four inches long. Bracts 
closely imbricated, lanceolate-deltoid, purplish green, densely 
pubescent, each holding two flowers. Outer divisions linear, 
small, equal. Corolla pale yellow, with a long tube, its three 
divisions lanceolate, exserted from the bract when the flower is 
expanded. Staminodia three, the labellum and staminode opposite 
to it as long as the corolla-segments, broader than they are and 
quite like them in colour and texture; the inner staminode 
which holds the style cucullate and auricled on one side as in the 
other species. Anther-bearing filament connate with the style 
and one of the outer staminodes. Ovary three-celled. 
Tas. 811.—1, pair of flowers with bract; 2, cucullate inner stami- 
node, stigma and anther; 8, cucullate inner staminode, enclosing the 
style: all magnified.—J. G. B. 
