Abstract:
Vanilla plants of all species (with the exception of V. aphylla) are vegetatively much alike, and in the south of Malaya they rarely flower. The flowers are also short-lived. The few lowland plants actually seen in flower by botanists have all belonged to the species Vanilla Griffithii, and it has been asumed that this is the only lowland species of Vanilla in this country. Recently however Mr. J. A. le Doux found a flowering  plant near Kota Tinggi, Johore, and this proved to be quite distinct from V. griffithii in the form of the lip.  It is also different from all recorded species from Sumatra, Borneo and Siam. In the structure of the flower, this new species seems to be nearest to V. aphylla, which occurs in the north of Malaya. Flowers of all species of Vanilla have a mass of appendages of some sort in the middle of the lip, opposite the anther. Pollination is affected by small bees which enter the tube formed by the joined lip and column. In returning from the botom of the tube to its mouth, the insect must surmount the obstacle formed by these appendages, and in so doing comes into contact first with the stigma and then the anther. In V. griffithii the appendages consist of very fine twisted wooly hairs. In V. montana Ridl., and V. kinabaluensis Carr, the appendages are a series of thin plates. In the present new species there is a tuft of fine curved but not twisted hairs, directed backwards towards the base of the column. The midlobe of the lip also is covered with thicker erect hairs, as in V. aphylla. The column is joined to the lip for almost the whole of its length, and then the side-lobes enfold the end of the column, which is not visible unless they are folded back.  This arrangement contrasts with that of V, griffithii, in which the column is joined to the lip for only one third of its length, and the side-lobes are reflexed, exposing the end of the column.

Abstract:
Plants rhizomatous, the rhizome a sympodium, each new element ending in an erect leafy shoot ; rhizome elements usually short. Branches of all kinds, both vegetative and on the inflorescence, bearing first a 2-keeled prophyll backing on to the axis which bears the branch. Erect shoots bearing one to several distichous leaves, the leaves sometimes all basal, sometimes separated by short or long internodes, and usually a terminal inflorescence; in a few cases the inflorescence borne on a separate shoot having only short sheaths, without foliage leaves. Leaf-blade usually elliptic to ovate, nearly always glabrous except sometimes for hairs on either side of the midrib beneath, sometimes with the upper surface variegated, the lower surface sometimes purple; lateral veins oblique, close, fine, with little distinction between main and subsidiary veins; petiole short or long, the portion immediately belwo the blade being thickened and round in section, often slightly curved; sheath short or long, sometimes hairy, the edges usually converging upwards and meeting in a point at the base of the petiole, often without a distinct ligule. Inflorescence always with condensed cymose partial inflorescences in the axils of primary bracts, each successive branch of the cyme enclosed in a 2-3 keeled prophyll, often also with an unkeeled mesophyll opposite the prophyll and closing the gap between its edges. Primary bracts arranged in a simple spike, either distichous or spirally, or with lateral spikes in the axils of lower bracts ; spikes of second and third order sometimes developed. Flowers always paired, the two flowers of a pair usually opening together, but sometimes not, and sometimes unequally stalked, one flower being the mirror image of the other. Ovary inferior, one unilocular or trilocular (trilocular in Malayan species), one ovule in each loculus. Sepals free to the base, usually equal, usually narrow, sometimes persistent on the apex of the fruit. Corolla froming a tube with 3 lobes; lobes usually narrowly triangular or oblong. Staminodes and stamen attached to the corolla-tube, sometimes forming a tube which extends some distance beyond the attachment of the corolla-lobes. Staminodes of the outer whorl two, rarely one; when two, placed on either side of the stamen, petaloid, often unequal, large or small. Staminodes of the inner whorl, two, unequal, called the fleshy staminode and the hooded staminode. Fleshy staminode, small or large, petaloid, usually broad, of thicker texture than the outer staminodes, bearing an oblique fleshy callus on which the stigma rests after release from the hooded staminode. Hooded staminode usually small, with hooded apex and usually a downward-pointing lobe on one side, enclosing the style and stigma until disturbed, and then releasing them. Stamen about as long as hooded staminode, bearing one half of an anther on one side , the other side more or less developed inot a petaloid lamina (Usually narrow). Style and stigma held erect at first by the hooded staminode, when released the upper part springing downwards to form an inverted U, the stigma resting on the callus of the fleshy staminode. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent, containing 1 to 3 seeds ; in dehiscent fruits the seeds bearing a bilobed basal aril, in indehiscent fruits the aril lacking.  Seed containing a curved or sometimes straight embryo embedded in perisperm, with an opening for germination of the root closed by a special plug as in Musaceae and Zingiberaceae; a hollow ( the perisperm canal ) extending from near the plug into the interior of the seed, in the bay formed by the curve of the embryo, or parallel to the embryo when the latter is straight (Phrynium capitatum).        

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Abstract:
Korthalsias form a small group of clump-forming rattans, the species of which are inadequately known. This inadequacy of our systematic knowledge is due primarily to the inadequacy of herbarium specimens obtained by collectors not well conversant with the needs of the systematist. The one thing that the collector should notice in Korthalsias is the great deal of variation not only in the different parts of an individual stem, but often also in different individual stems of the same clump at different stages. Thus the ocrea of the first leaves on a new stem is somewhat different in texture and in dimensions, and sometimes also in armature, from its condition on the later leaves; after the first few leaves, it soon acquires its definitive form, which is retained by all leaves on the stem except the reduced leaves which are associated with the terminal inflorescence. Similarly in some species the first leaves on a stem are flabellate (undivided, fan-shaped), and are sometimes of a peculiar colour and indumentum (special covering on the surface).  On later leaves the leaflets begin to separate but the terminal two leaflets may remain connate or united. Subsequent leaves may show a gradation of change in shape, size, indumentum, and clour of leaflets and of their stalk-like bases (ansae), and the two terminal leaflets maybe separate; in still later stages the leaves have a clawed whip-like end (eirrus). As the stem approaches its maximal growth and terminates in an inflorescence, the changes in the leaves continue. The main branches of the inflorescence are produced in the axils of leaves showing various gradations in reduction, so that some of the terminal leaves consist each of a leaf-sheath surmounted by a small cirrus, with no leaflets.  Side by side with these changes, there will be noticed variations in the thickness of the stem, the size of the petiole, and in the armature on sheaths, ocrea, etc. However, since the ocrea early acquires a definitive form and changes but very little except in the terminal leaves, it has been found that Malayan Korthalsias can be separated from other rattans both generically and specifically on the adult leaves having ocrea. No other rattan genus has leaves which produce both leaflets which are rhomboidal in shape or have premorse lips (as if bitten off), and long ring-like ocrea at the junction of sheath and petiole. Since leaf-sheaths and petioles are also essential for the correct specific identification of most rattans collectors should therefore be instructed to include a sufficient number of representative bits of stems to show the petioles, sheaths and ocrea.  In order to clarify accurately the status of many species based on juvenile material only, or on material without leaf-sheath and ocrea, it would be useful if sets carefully numbered in the field were made to show all the important variations noticeable in a clump. This should not be taken to mean that the flowering parts are unimportant for a systematic study of Korthalsia; they are useful especially to give an additional confirmation that the identification made on the vegetative characters are correct and also to show their affinities; but it is extremely difficult to identify species on specimens having no ocrea and petioles. Of the inflorescence, spikes and fruits are of very great importance in separating species, but these parts are rarely represented in most specimens.

Abstract:
Plectocomiopsis is a genus consisting of a group of tufted, climbing palms characterised by the following: The inflorescence is a terminal panicle (monocarpic plants) with its primary branches issuing out of the leaf-axils through the mouth of the tubular sheaths of reduced leaves; the male and female flowers occur in different plants (dioecious); all the spathes including the secondary ones are tubular; the fruits have small scales which are arranged in distinct vertival rows; the seed globose compressed at apex and at base, so as to make it look almost cyclindrical; albumen is homogeneous; and the embryo is basilar. The female flowers are borne either directly on secondary branches, or, like the male flowers, on a small tertiary axis which either remains almost included within its axillant spathel or is developed up to 1 - 3 cm. long.

Abstract:
The name Myrialepis was coined by Beccari to show that the fruits of this genus are distinguished in having innumerable minute, irregularly set scales, a character sufficient to distinguish this genus at once from all other rattans. Its affinities are very close to Plectocomiopsis whose fruit scales are comparatively also very small for rattans, but are much larger than those in Myrialepis, and are arranged in regular rows.  The Myrialepis plants, like those of Korthalsia and Plectocomiopsis, are scandent and tufted, each individual stem terminating its growth with an inflorescence (monocarpic). The inflorescence is either male or female, the plants being dioecious. The side branches of the inflorescence are produced each in the axils of reduced leaves, and emerge each by the mouth of the axillant leaf-sheath ; these branches are divided again once in female plants and twice in male, before they produce spikelets. Leaves are large having no trace of an ocrea at the transition of the sheath into the petiole; they bear a cirrus at the end except when they are produced in the early stages of the stem. Leaflets are linear-lanceolate, provided with a single midrib and many sub-primary ones on both side of the midrib, punctulate with minute scales in the lower surface. Female flowers are solitary at each spathel, with no male or neuter flower attending; each flower has a 3-lobed calyx, a longer 3-parted corolla, a membranous 6-lobed staminodal cup adnate at base to the corolla, and a 3-locular globose ovary. The fruit is one-seeded, globose, and covered with innumerable minute, irregularly set scales.  The seed is slightly broader than long, having a homogenous albumen and a basal embryo ; this last is seated exactly opposite to the chalazal cavity which is punctiform in the cross section of the fruit, and short linear in length. Male inflorescences are more divided than the female, but almost similar; male flowers not seen. The genus is monotypic and was based on specimens collected by Scortechini in Perak. The syntypes which have been reproduced by Beccari (1918) by photographic plates, are from Beccari's herbarium in Florence (Scortechini 513b and sn.).  Hooker f.  (Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 1893 p. 480 ) who had no access to Beccari's herbarium, quoted Scortechini 457b in Kew Herbarium and failed to make any mention of the actual syntypes on which Beccari had based the genus and the species. A specimen bearing this Scortechini's collection number (preserved in Beccari's herbarium) has been tentatively identified by Beccari (1918) as being a sterile stage of Plectocomiopsis Wrayi. Apparently the genus is widely distributed in Malaya and was at one time very common in Singapore.  Beccari (1918) referred tentatively to this genus some sterile specimens collected from Sumatra, and stated that Plectocomiopsis paradoxus from Burma and P. floribundus from Indon-China might prove to be the species of Myrialepis ; of these two species, however, female flowers and fruit are not known.  

Abstract:
The genus Plectocomia, like Korthalsia, Plectocomiopsis and Myrialepis, comprises a group of climbing palms which end their vegetative growth by producing flowers and fruits borne in terminal panicle. In the flowering-stages, however, Plectocomia species are easily separated generically by their large, non-tubular, cymbiform, spathels which cover the spikelets; in young stages of the inflorescence, these spathels are conspicuously imbricate and curl round the axis so as to make the spikes resemble tail-like structures. The side branches of the whole panicle are in the axils of somewhat reduced leaves, and each branch may bear several secondary branches. The spikelets which are produced in the axils of spathels, represent tertiary branches and are shorter than the respective spathels. Male and female flowers are always produced on separate plants; while the flowers in the female are solitary at each notch or pedicel on the spikelet, the flowers in the male plant are always in pairs. The fruit scales are comparatively small and in some species including the one that occurs in Malaya, these scales have a free soft end which makes the fruit squarrorse. The seed albumen is homogeneous and the embryo is basal.  Sterile plants might be easily confused with those of Plectomiopsis and Myrialepis, since the leaves in all these genera have a petiole which is neither gibbose, nor flagellate, and which do not usually produce a conspicuous ocrea (Ocrea is present in P. Corneri) ; the leaflets too are somewhat similar and have thickened margins. However, the small scales which are present in the lower surface of the leaflets in the other two genera, are absent in the leaflets of Plectocomia. Further the stems which are apparently tufted in all the species of Myrialepis and Plectocomiopsis, appear to be solitary in Plectocomia; sometimes the stems in the last mentioned genus produce bulbils or branches near the base, but these apparently do not grow so as to make the plant tufted. Further observations are however necessary to see whether this phenomenon which has been observed on plants growing in the Botanic Gardens, Singaporee, is true also in the wild state. Herbarium specimens of this genus are not well represented in many herbaria, and so collectors should be warned to collect as complete material as possible, together with the notes about the habit of the plant in the field.    

Abstract:
Ceratolobus is a peculiar genus among the Indo-Malay-asian palms which have scaly fruits (Lepidocaryeae) and rotan-like stems. As in Calamus and Daemonorops, the spikes are not cycindrical, and the stems do not stop their vegetative growth to produce flowers and fruits and then die, but continue to produce the reproductive parts without ceasing their vegetative growth ; that is, the stem is always polycarpic in this genus. But the character that distinguishes a Ceratolobus species readily from other rotans generically is the peculiar structureof the spadices ; for apart from its being very short and porrect, each panicle of spadix is enclosed in only one external, flattened, lanceolate-fusiform, usually unarmed spathe.  

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Abstract:
The only recent critical morphological studies of plants in this family are those by Valeton. Unfortunately, they cover only a limited part of the whole field, but their throughness and clarity of presentation showed the way for further progress. The present work was begun by an examination of living plants of those genera studied by Valeton, and his work is therefore the basis of that now presented. In addition to living plants of species of almost all genera, alcohol material of many other species was available for study, mostly collected during the years 1930 - 1940 by Mr. E. J. H. Corner, with copius field notes, the substance of which is included in the present descriptions. In addition, there are careful coloured drawings of several species described by Mr. Ridley, which have supplied some information not otherwise available. Of some species, however, only dried specimens have been examined, and there are accordingly gaps in necessary information about them. The species descriptions here presented are rather lengthy, but I believe that this is necessary in the present inadequate state of our knowledge of the family. It has been my experience that earlier descriptions frequently omitted data which appeared to me necessary for a proper characterization of the species. For the purpose merely of identifying the species now known to exist in Malaya, much briefer descriptions would be adequate ; but they would not be helpful in the understanding of species still to be discovered, either in this country or in neighbouring territories. I have attempted also a comparative account of the morphology of the inflorescence, which appears to me of basic importance. The present work is confined to species in the Malay Peninsula for two reasons. First, it was mainly prepared in the year 1944, when I had adequate material only of such species for study; and second, I have now other work on hand which prevents me attempting a study of the family over a wider area. Though the work is therefore of necessity a partial one, and though in consequence I cannot offer a satisfactory solution of such problems as that of the typification of Alpinia, I hope that the present work will be a useful basis for that wider study of this interesting family in Malaysia as a whole which is so desirable.  

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Abstract:
Some early genera of ferns are so heterogeneous that the authors cannot have had clear ideas in founding them. It is sometimes possible to exclude certain species as not conforming  to the author's generic description, but it is often not possible to say that one species rather than another is clearly indicated by that description. The generic description is thus not an infallible guide in the selection of a type-species.  The usual procedure has been to follow the first author who divides a genus. The process may be repeated more than once. Often the authors who split genera did not indicate a type-species; one can only agree that the type-species must be contained in that part of the original genus which is retained under the original generic name. It may occur that subsequent authors in dividing a genus do not pay attention to the original generic description, and so may retain under the original generic name a species that does not well agree with that description, removing all others to another genus or genera. In such cases it may seem reasonable to select a new type-species of the original genus. But if ( as often happens) none of the original species correspond uniquely to the description, there may well be difference of opinion as to which species most nearly corresponds to it. The result will be confusion. I suggest that, in the interests of uniformity of nomenclature, it is better to follow the first divider of a genus, even though he may not select (by implication or otherwise) a type-species that most nearly corresponds to the original description. This may not be ideal arrangement; but in practice no ideal arrangement is possible, and I suggest that it is better to follow a definite rule rather than an indefinite one which will allow of differences of opinion and, as a result, confusion of nomenclature. On the other hand, there should certainly be a recommendation that a later author, in dividing a genus, should principally consider the generic description when selecting a type-species. Linnean genera can be treated like any others, having regard to the convention that the species described in 1753 are associated with the generic descriptions of 1754, and to the rule that legitimate nomenclature begins in 1753 (art. 20).  I apply these principles to the names of certain fern genera as follows:      

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Abstract:
In my previous commentary on the laws of botanical nomenclature (Gard. Bull. Straits Settl. IX, 1937, pp. 223 - 284), an attempt was made to clarify a number of provisions which appeared vague or inconsistent in the 1935 Rules. Later some amendments were proposed by me for consideration at the 1940 Botanical Congress on points that appeared to me the most essential for future progress (Gard. Bull. Straits Settl. XI, 1939, pp. 1 - 30). However, I venture here to isuue a complementary set of proposals and a commentary in the hope that the philosophical basis of nomenclature may receive due consideration in the revision of the Rules at the 1950 Congress. I submit that the time has come when botanists should pause to analyse first principles involved in the system of the rules as a whole and then examine the different rules accordingly. I propose therefore that a special Committee be appointed to consider in detail the principles involved.  Should this Committee agree to a principle, but not to the location or the form of an amendent embodying the principle - two reasons why a good proposal may be rejected - the Commitee should be empowered  to suggest a better place and/or better wording so that the principle might be incorporated in the code.

Abstract:
Of the 13 species of the genus, the following are wild in the Malay Peninsula : S. affinis, S. conferta, S. flabellata, S. glabrescens, S. Rumphii and S. Scortechinii. RIDLEY does not include the last mentioned species in his Flora (1925), nor does he give any reason for this omission. Beccari's plate of the type of S. Scortechinii looks like a mixture consisting of a young leaf of S. affinis and a spadix of S. conferta, but I do feel justified in making this reduction without being able to compare the original material with recent collection.  Salacca conferta is split into two species by BURRET (1942), under the genus Eleiodoxa, as E. conferta and E. orthoschista, the latter based on material collected in Singapore.  Though we have very good material from Singapore, we have very little from Malacca, the type locality of S. conferta ; on the evidence at present available, I am not able to separate the two species. S. flabellata is the only new species described here; it is reported to be very common in two places in Kemaman (at Sungei Nipah and at Bukit Kajang). It is the smallest species in the genus and is easily recognized by its individed leaves, a character not found in any other Salacca except in seedling stages. The species is known from male specimens only.  In the key to the species, the non-malayan species S. sumatrana, S. vermicularis and S. edulis, are given in order to make clear the identity of S. edulis, which is found occasionally cultivated or as an escape in Malaya, and is probably the species commonly cultivated in Java for the export of fruits.  I have also given the synonyms of S. edulis, so that the use of the name is clarified. S. borneensis has been reduced to a variety of S. affinis, but the variety has not been recorded in Malaya.    

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Obituary

Abstract:
During a survey of the ferns, orchids, grasses and Cyperaceae of the Malay Peninsula, based on all specimens in the Singapore herbarium, a number of undescribed species were found. These are described below. It is hoped that full revised accounts of all these families, as represented in the Malay Peninsula, will be published later. Various changed of names, found necessary during the work, are also here published.

Abstract:
The following new species of Eugenia are described in anticipation of a critical review of the genus in the Malay Peninsula which it is hoped will be published in the near future.