Balania Harlandii (Hook. F.) V.T., of the HK, Region & Its Relatives. 13 the staminate flowers elongate their pedicels during anthesis. There are also both single and double inflorescences. They are also particularly waxy (or ceraceous).
The
Plate 5 shows 7 plants, also from collection 3 (Ma On Shan) and they are to be compared for variety with those shown on plate 4. second figure from the right in the lower row shows both a staminate and z pistillate inflorescences from the same rhizome. The next figure to the left is a perfect but very slender pistillate plant.
Plate 6 shows, below, the single rhizome from collection 4 (High West, Hong Kong Island). The dichotomous branching of the rhizome seems very clear. Also on plate 6 (above) is a staminate inflorescence from collection 1, cut vertically to show the behaviour of the staminate flowers.
Plate 7 shows 4 plants from collection 5 Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island). They are slender plants and near to typical Balania Harlandii.
Plate & shows the staminate inflorescence of plate 6 (collection 4), enlarged 5 diameters. The details of the structure of staminate flowers, the behaviour of their pedicels during anthesis, and the cupules formed by the thick, more or less coalescent bracts, from which the staminate flowers emerge, which is characteristic of Balania (including Bivolva is well shown,
Plate 9 shows, by drawings, various details of the flowers of mem- hers of collection 3 (Ma On Shan). Figures 1-4 are staminate flowers in various positions (3 and 3a from the same flower). Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sections through staminate flowers in different stages of development with sections of bracts on each side. (Figures 1-6 are enlarged to diameters). Figure 7 is a view of a minute portion of a pistillate inflorescence showing the more slender pistils at the base of the more robust spadicels (or pistillate bracts). It is enlarged to 31 diameters. Figures 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged to 93 diameters, 8 and 9 being pistils and to a spadicel. Figure 11 shows pollen grains enlarged to 410 diameters.
Observers in the Hong Kong region may expect to find species of other genera of the Balanophoraceae in their region. Those with the staminate flowers with numerical arrangement over 3 (divisions of the perianth and anthers) belong to other genera: Balanophora has usually 4 (to 6) divisions with 4 (to 6) vertical, horseshoe-shaped anthers; Balaniella has 4 divisions with 8 to 20 anthers opening by vertical slits, and Polyplethia 3 to 6 divisions and 20 to 60 anthers, horizontal and more or less elongated hexagonal in form and when seen from above arranged more or less in 2 rows, the anthers of each row dovetailing in with the anthers of the other. None of these genera has, as yet, been reported from the Hong Kong region, but they occur to the north and to the southwest of it, hence may be expected. They preserve best in strong alcohol.
Bentham, George.
REFERENCES.
1861. Flora Hongkongensis, a description of the flowering plants and
ferns of the island of Hong Kong.
Supplement No. 1, 1932.
89
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.