Brachyspatha
(from brachys, short, and spatha, a spathe; the spathe is much shorter than the spadix). ORD. Aroideae (Araceae). A stove tuberous perennial, allied to, and requiring the same cultivation as, Amorpho-phallus (which see). B. variabilis (variable).* fl. exhaling an abominable foetor, which is, however, of very short duration; spathe much shorter than the spadix, greenish-purple, sharply acuminate, and many-nerved; spadix whitish, with female flower at the base, and above contiguous to them are the males without any intermediate neutral flowers; anthers orange red; the naked apex of the spadix is very long, wrinkled, and pitted on the surface. l. solitary, 18in. across; the spotted petiole divides at the top into three main divisions, each of which is again forked and deeply pinnately cut; the segments alternate, sessile, or decurrent, very unequal in size, ovate or oval-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, shining. h. 3ft. India, 1876. (G. C. 1876, 129.)