half the length, on compressed stalks of equal thickness
throughout, half an inch or more long when full-grown. Base
of the leaf a little widened, bearing the fructification on its
anterior surface within two filmy longitudinal spathaceous
valves about as long as the peduncle, between which the
stigmas protrude when in flower, and the anthers also are
partially uncovered. Spadix sessile within the spatha, the
cavity of which it almost fills, linear-oblong, rather concave,
with narrow inflexed edges, bearing alternately on its midrib in
front, in two close-set rows, about four pistils and as many
pairs of anthers, the lower pistil being sometimes suppressed
or imperfect. Anthers sessile or on the shortest possible footstalks,
pale yellow, sulcate on the upper surface, oval-oblong,
narrowed and somewhat curved at the upper end, towards
which is the point of attachment. Germen pale, smooth and
even, smaller than the anthers, which it resembles in shape
and in mode of attachment, tapering gradually to a curved
neck terminated by two long, slender, acute, spreading
stigmas. The perfect fruit we have not examined: it is described
as even, but Fries remarks that it appears slightly
striated under a glass. Within the incurved margins of the
spadix grow a few alternate, small, flat, green appendages,
strap-shaped, rounded at the apex, stretching inwards to about
the middle of the spadix, and, after the fall of the anthers,
clasping the necks of the enlarged ovaries, which however
they do It is an qout easltwioany sw ehqeuthale ri nt hneu mflobwere.rs of this genus are hermaphrodite
or not. The anthers in some instances equal the
pistils in number, and in others are twice as many. For a
beautiful analysis of the fructification, see Z. marina in FI.
FoDndo.u, bntesw h asevrei easr, ist.e n35 a.s to the identity of Roth’s species from
his having quoted 2. marina /3. angustifolia, FI. Dan. t. 1501,
as a synonym, and preserved, it is said, that plant in his herbarium
as 2. nana (Fries, l. c.). Yet, as his description agrees
best with our plant, and as Koch has seen specimens of it
from Mertens, the discoverer, gathered in the Isle of Nordeney,
Roth’s station, we do not scruple to retain for it this very
appropriate name. Reichenbach adopts Nolte’s name, Z. minor,
in his text, but prefers Roth’s on his plate. Forskael’s Red
Sea plant, Z. uninervis {FI. JEgypt.-Arab. p. 157, Vahl Enum.
v. 1.p. 14), may or may not be the same: the description
does not enable us to decide: but Koch’s objection is not valid,
the barren leaves of ours assuredly attaining the length o f“ a
span or more.” Few of those who have written on our plant
appear to have seen it alive. Fries says that it is not unfrequIenn
tt hine Dhiegnhmlya rmka.gnified portion on the plate one margin of
the spadix is laid open, and the stamens and pistils are pushed
aside, to show the insertion of these and of the clasping appendages,
one of which also is turned back.—W. B.