Piptospatha
(from pipto, to fall, and spathe, a spathe; after fertilisation, the top of the spathe falls off like an extinguisher). ORD. Aroideae (Araceae). A monotypic genus. The species is a stove, herbaceous, tufted, stemless perennial, of little other than botanical interest. It thrives best in a well-drained compost of rich, sandy loam, fibry peat, and leaf mould. A very moist atmosphere is essential. Propagated by divisions, or by seeds. P. insignis (remarkable). fl. white, tinted with pink, 1 1/2in. long, convolute, ovate-fusiform; spadix half as long as the spathe, sessile; peduncles longer than the petioles, slender, decurved at apex. Summer. l. numerous, nearly 6in. long, lanceolate, coriaceous, cartilaginously margined, slightly dotted beneath; petioles much shorter than the leaves, sheathing at base. Borneo, 1879. (B. M. 6598; G. C. n. s., xi., p. 139.)