Refugium Botanicum. | [| November, 1871. 
TAB. 312. 
Natural Order MAaranTace®. 
Genus Purynium, Willd. 
P. unmarerate (Baker). Acaulis, foliis distichis longe petiolatis 
oblongo-lanceolatis ultra pedem longis cuspidatis papyraceis 
utrinque glabris pallide viridibus, pedunculis radicalibus bre- 
vibus robustis pubescentibus dichotomiter furcatis bractea 
magna spathiformi instructis, crura laterali geniculatim de- 
curvata, floribus geminis biseriatis in spicas unilaterales dis- 
positis, bracteis exterioribus late navicularibus chartaceis 
albidis dense imbricatis, interioribus pellucidis, perianthu 
breviter pedicellati segmentis calycinis parvis lanceolatis, inte- 
rioribus petaloideis albis oblongis deorsum in tubum connatis, 
staminodiis late petaloideis, stylo sursum libero, seminibus in 
fructu solitariis. 
A native of Madagascar, sent by Mr. Plant. 
Acaulescent. Leaves distichous, half a dozen to a stem, on 
pubescent petioles fifteen to eighteen inches long, concave down 
the face in the lower part, with a distinct phyllopode nearly an 
inch long at the top. Blade oblong-lanceolate, papyraceous in 
texture, curling up very soon like that of a Maranta when the 
plant is gathered, twelve to fifteen inches long, four to five inches 
broad, rounded at the base, abruptly acute at the apex, glabrous 
and pale green on both sides, with close distinct erecto-patent 
veins. Peduncles radical, stout, pubescent, three to four inches 
long, dichotomously forked, with a large clasping spathe-like 
bract at the division, the lateral branch geniculately decurved. 
Flowers in dense unilateral spikes consisting of two close rows, 
with tightly-packed bracts enclosing two flowers each, the general 
habit of the inflorescence just like that of the American Calathea 
Myrosma (Roscoe, Scit. t. 89). Ouwter bract of each cluster 
tough, whitish, broadly boat-shaped, half an inch broad, wrapped 
tightly round the axis ; inner one hidden, membranous. lowers 
each on a very short pedicel; ovary orange; sepals lanceolate, 
equal, minute; petals oblong, white, minutely mucronate, united 
in a tube as long as the limb. Staminodia as long as and broader 
than the petals, just like them in texture, the lower one bearing 
a lobe coloured yellow from its side just opposite the stigma ; 
anther terminal, on a short petaloid filament. Style free and 
