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 374 ACCOITNT OF A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS,

excited by the discovery of a floAver of such extraordinary dimensions, the male flower is in many respects so singular, and its structure is so admirauly illustrated by Mr. Bauer's drawings, that, accompanied by them, even the present in- complete account will probably be thought worthy of a place in the Society's Transactions.

Its publication is the less objectionable, as it may still be a considerable time before the plant is met with in all its states ; and however unsatisfactory our present materials may l)e, either for determining its affinities, or the equally important question, Avhether it be parasitic on the root to which it is attached, there can be no doubt that it forms a genus abundantly distinct from any that has hitherto been described.

It is proposed, in honour of Sir Stamford Raffles, to call this genus Rafflesia, the name I am persuaded that Dr. Arnokl himself would have chosen had lie lived to publish an account of it ; and it may in the mean time be distin- guished by the following characters.

��207] RAPFLESIA.

PerianfJmim monophyllum, coloratum ; fuho ventri- coso ; corona faucis annulari, indivisa ; Umbo quinquepar- tito, sequali.

Mas. Columna (inclusa) : limho cqncis reclinato, subtus simplici seric polyandro ; disco processibus (concentricis) tecto.

Anfherm sessiles, su])globosa3, cellulosaD, poro apicis dc- hiscentes.

Fem.

Rafflesia Aiinoldi. Tab. 13—20 (XV— XXII.)

DESCRirTIO.

E liadice lignca horizon tali tercfi, IcTvi, crassitie fere et

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