■J* ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA / ♦ Vol. XIL PART II. I % ANNALS / OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA Vol. XII. I PART 4 \ By Dr. 0D0ARD0 BECCARI / PART III THE SPECIES OF THE GENERA. / ? \J Z4 CERATOLOBUS, CALOSPATHA, PLECTOMIA, PLECTOMIOPSIS, MYRIALEPtS, ZALACCA. /\ PIGAFEnA, KORTHALSIA METROXYLON, EUGEISSONA. With 120 plates and 6 plates of analytical figures. i CALCUTTA THE BENGAL ETARIAT OH OEPOT tgta. I Published by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, Writers' Buildings, Calcutta. OFFICIAL AGENTS. fn India \ Messrs. Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta and Simla. Messrs. Newman & Co., Calcutta. Messrs. Higginbotham & Co., Madras. Messrs. Thacker & Co.. Ld., Bombay. Messrs. A. J. Combridge & Co., Bombay, The Superintendent, American Bap-hot Mission Press, Rangoon. Mrs. Radhabai Atmaram Sagoon, Bombay. Messrs. R. Cam bray & Co., Calcutta. Rai Sahib M. Gulab Singh & Sons, Proprietors of the Mund-i«am Press, Lahore, Punjab. Messrs. Thompson & Co., Madras. Messrs. S. Murthy & Co., Madras. Messrs. Gopal Narayan e - involucre. — Fig. 2. Extremity of a branchclet from a male 1 — 4. Ceratolobus glaucescens Bl. — Fig. L Extremity of a branchlet from a female spadix ; a, female flower ; b, neuter flower ; c, spathel ; d, involucro- phoru spadix ; c, spathel ; d, involucre, showing the pistil entire ; d. staininodes. — Fig. androecium (Fig. Fig. -'J. Partial section of a female flower involucrophoruni ; e, involucre ; /, calyx ; 9 i 4. Partial section of a male flower showing the entire i 1 enlarged 10 diam.). Fig. 5 7. Geratolob concolor Bl. Fig. 5 s from the chalazal fo side. T Fig. 6. the same (all same fr the antiraphal de Fig. 7. tud section of ged 2 d i » * C. glaucescens. CEKATOLOBU8. 5 DESCRIPTION OF .1 1 V \ 1- Oekatoloih s glaucescens Bl. iii Roem. et Sch. Syet. Veget., vii, 1334 : Rumphia, ii • 165, t. 129 ana 137. F. A.; PI. Jungb, i, 101; Mart, Hist. Nat. Palm., iii. 196, t. 115, I.; Miq. FT. I ml. Hat. iii. 73. Description. — Slender and high scandent. Sheathed stem about 15 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths cylindrical, not. or very slightly gibbous above, densely armed with very unequal, scattered, rigid, slender, grayish. 2 — 3 cm. long, needle-like * spreading or deflexed spines, intermingled with others very small and only a few millimeters long; the mouth of the sheaths is obliquely truncate (not produced into an ocrea), a nil e i 1 with ascendent spines similar to those of the body of the sheaths and with narrow membranous borders produced into au axillary short triangular acute ligula. Leaves about i o cm. long in the pinuiferous part ; ■ * the petiole 5 — 15 or more cm. long, 7—8 mm. thick, spinescent, subterete, flattish above; the rhachis also subterete,' more or less prickly, but especially armed along the dorsum with some slender, straight, deflexed, 2 — 3 cm. long spines, at first tern ate, becoming solitary regularly 8—10 on armec eac 1 h with small very and sharp smaller above ; ternato claws. the Leaflets cirrus slend er not many side of the rhachis, alternate or subopposite, papyraceous light green above, powdery-glaucous beneath, rhomboidal, oblong-rhomboidai or rhomboidal-cuneate, narrowing from the middh or from a little above to an acute, not ansate, base; the upper margins subdu plica tely lobulate-crenate ; the lobules very minutely setose aristate, the apex caudiculate, or prolonged into a triangular elongate and at the sides spinulous ciliate point ; leaflets radiately plicate along several (12 — 15) very slender primary nerves, the nerve of the centre being slightly stronger than the others ; the intermediate leaflets are 18 — 22 em. long, 7 — 9 cm. wide, those of both ends narrower but not shorter. Male and female spadix similar, attached to the leaf-sheaths by a very slender, recurved, filiform, spinous pedicelliform part, frequently 10 — 15 cm. long, but at times shorter, covered with inni. Ion The very slender, some long and some short, spines, the longest 8 — 10 spathe is lanceolate-elliptical or broadly fusiform, strongly flattened with very sharp edges, 10 — 25 cm. long, 2 — 4 cm. broad, equally narrowing to both ends, very suddenly contracted above into a narrow linear beak, 1 — 2 cm. long, thinly papyraceous dry and brittle, of a cinnamon-brown colour, at first powdery, later glabrous ; the included flattened panicle is cupressiform, has a very slender sinuous axis and is divided into several gradually diminishing slender floriferous branchlets ; the bracts at each branching are small and trigonous with a subulate point and an amplectent base. The spadices bearing only male flowers (not seen by me) according to Martius are only slightly less branched (or more ? Becc.) than the female-males or \ polygamous, and their flowers are only slightly larger than the male or neuter dues of the latter. In the female spadices the branchlets bear the flowers in pairs at each flexure, every female flower being accompanied by a male (or neuter) flower ; they are sutfuited by tw r o short embracing spathels (produced at one side into a triangular acute point) and correspond to the involucrophorum and involucre of Daemonorojjs. Female flowers ovoid, or elongate-ovoid, acute or acuminate, 4 — 5 mm. long ; the calyx cyathiform, truncate, 3-toothed, strongly striately veined, longer \ i » 6 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA C. concolor. than the spathcls ; the corolla is nearly 3 times as long as the calyx, is bel the d'lle into 3 triangular acute or acuminate segments, and is entire ted ind ventricose in its lower part ; the stamens have the filaments connate with the un- ded part of the corolla d are d Wl th a h free portion at its throat d have rather well formed, but sterile, narrowly sagittate anthers ; ovary globose, cover ed h suborbicular, fimbriate scales ; style almost mas trigonous, subulate thickish, strongly lamellose on inner d ad d r d d the anthesis. . * through a very short pedicel laterally to the female, inside the lowest (the »ph or are lanceolate, more calyx short with 3 acute 1 of the two spathels ; they ess trigonous, acute, 5 mm long, 1 — 5 mm, wid e th th 5 th e corolla lanceolate, acute aniens have the filaments ad h longer than the calyx ; petals ite to the base of the petals and with a short free part ; anthers linear sagittate, well sterile ; rud unknown. med but apparently the ovary very minute, papilliform. h matu v H J ava : in B on th e moil on the limestone rocks near Ku Rat (Res. of Buitenzorg) and in the forests in A\ Baa i or P (Mquet, Bl F this last locality I have late Dr. Boerlage. a specimen collected by the It is with si end Observatk ckly armed pirdery or mealy-glaucous nder spinous elongate ped ed its lender stem unequal spines ; by the cuneately beneath d by the reflexed d ed with sheaths omboidal leaflets borne on very \ Plate 1. Ceratolobus glaucescens BL Portion of the spadix-bearing stem ; one leaf wanting only its basal part and a separate spadix with half the spathe removed, to show the female panicle ; from a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg. Upper part of a leaf-sheath with a spadix " in situ : " from a specimen, collected Dr. Boerlage at Wijnkoops Baai. 2. Ceratolobus concolor BL Rumphia, ii, 165, t. 120 f. 1 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 74. Description. — Very slender. Sheathed stem 6 — 9 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths distinctly puckered below the petiole, rendered more or less scabrid by very minute tubercled spinules ; the mouth truncate, with a narrow membranous border, produced into an axillary, short, triangular, acute glabrous or slightly hairy ligula. Leaves 40—60 cm. long in the pinniferous part ; the petiole short, 4 — 5 cm. long or at times more, subterete, smooth or scabrid, unarmed or provided with a few straggling straight spines on the dorsum ; rhachis obsoletely trigonous, scantily armed on the dorsum with distant solitary claws > the cirrus very slender, very minutely and regularly clawed. Leaflets few, 4 — 5 on each side of the rhachis, all about the same size, 12 15 cm. long, 3 — 5 cm. wide, alternate or subopposite, papyraceous, light-green and dull on both surfaces, el ongate-rb omboidal or cuneately rhomboidal, narrowing from, or from a little above, the middle to an acute non- ansate base ; the upper margins irregularly undulate-crenate, the lobules very minutely setose-aristate or muticous ; the apex caudiculate or prolonged into a * / / C. dtscolor. CERATOLOBUS. 7 triangular elongate point h at the d are rad plicate along 9 11 is inconspicuously spinulous-ciliate ; th centre being subglobular. lower slightly the very der primary nerves, the nerve of the slightly stronger than the others. Spadices long pedunculate. Fruit Seed ovate, 15 mm. long. 11 mm. broad ded at both d d than the upper, having a deep elongate chalazai fovea the on raphal side, and the surface coarsely pitted, the hollows lead to cylindrical intrusions of the integument, so as to i end er th o It 3iimen d e ep ated. Emb exactly basal. Habitat. — On the east side of Sumatra in the Province of Pal.-mbang, and on the west in the Province of Padang, along the river Singalang {Bl. Miq.), where I collected in August 1878 sterile specimens at Ajer Mantjor, about 360 m. a b o v the sea 1 eve 1. Fertile specimens have been gathered quite recently (1915) by Grashoff (No. 189 in Herb. Bogor. and Becc.) at Lamatang Ulu in Palombang. It h the general aspect of G. gl from which d ers not only in being a more slender plant, but also spinous at th th and not in its leaf-sheaths being non i all over with long spines, but only with very small minute tubercled spinules or setae ; but especially it differs by the aflets not being mealy-glaucous b but almost equally green on both surfaces. My Su 5 mm specimens belong to a not yet flowering plant ; the sheathed stem is in mm tin e d canes 3 mm ume type, from which the d otherwise they are identical with of the d is d up \ Th e specimen ) the collected bv Grashoff fruits, have petioles are also verv mi mi f brid. The spad 189) bear spad nd densely sea ith wit n very young I : the bases of the have a very slender and long ped part (13 — 15 cm. long) ; the spathe is narrowly long, 15 cm. w m long beaked (13 16 cm d very adu narrows ds both ends, and has acute but not winged edg Pla 2. Ceratolol) / concolor Bl. P of sheathed stem with an entire leaf ; and portion of the stem bearing a spadix with very young fruits. From Grashoff's No. 189 in Herb. Beecari. 3. Cebatolobus discolob Becc. Malesia, iii, 63. Description— Of moderate or rather large size. The upper part of the sheathed stem in adult fertile plants is 2—3 cm. in diam., of the younger plants only 8—10 mm. Leaf-sheaths gibbous above, striate pluricostulate. thinly and fugaciously rusty-fur- furaceous, covered with small, unequal, erect, brown, glossy spiculae, 4 — 5 mm. long at most, often approximate by their bases and irregularly seriate ; beside this kind of spicule, the leaf-sheaths are occasionally provided with some very thinly laminar, flaccid lanceolate spines, 2— 2*5 cm. long and 3—4 mm. broad at their bases ; the mouth is obliquely truncate, unarmed, bordered by a narrow membranous rim, which is prolonged into an axillary perishable ligula. Leaves rather large, about 80 cm long in the pinniferous part ; the petiole 20—30 cm. long, subterete or slightly flattened especially at its base, 6 — 10 mm. thick, more or less armed with straight, spreading, scattered or shortly seriate spines ; rhachis subterete or sub-trigonous being obtusely bifaced above and rounded below, more or less armed on the dorsum, especially in » » * 8 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. C. discolor* # its lower portion, with ternate robust claws ; petiole and rhachis clothed with a cottony, fluffy, detachable indumentum ; cirrus up to 1*50 m. long, irregularly and _ powerfully clawed. Leaflets 5 — 7 on each side of the rhachis, alternate or suboppo- site, rigid-papyraceous, rhomboidal or broadly cuneately rhomboidal, radiately-plicate along several very slender primary nerves, that of the centre being slightly the stronger, conspicuously discolorous, green above, mealy white beneath ; the base acute and non-ansate ; the upper margins irregularly subduplicately lobulate and erosely toothed, the lobules more or less minutely setose-aristate ; the apex acute or produced into a triangular acuminate point ; the intermediate leaflets of the quite adult plant are 20 — 40 cm. long, and 10 — 18 cm. wide, those of both ends or of younger plants smaller. Male spadix .... Female spadix sessile, erect ; the spathe very large, 55 cm. long, 10 cm. wide (in one specimen), oblanoeolate-spathulate or subellip- tical, strongly flattened with very sharp edges, narrowing below to a rather acute base and suddenly contracted above to a stout beak, 5 — 6 cm. long, the beak only split in two halves during the anthesis ; the margins near the base hav e a few reverse d \ spinescent teeth, otherwise they are almost smooth or obsoletely minutely toothed ; the body is thinly coriaceous, of a cinnamon brown colour, darker inside, partially covered outside with a detachable thin tobacco coloured scurf, which leaves the denud- ed surface very minutely pitted, when observed with a le ns. The emale panicle during the anthesis is strict, elongate and narrow, about 50 cm. long, twice branched • its main axis is slightly flattened, 6 — 7 mm. broad, alternately bearing several gradu- ally smaller* fastigiate angular branches, which are divided again into several gradually smaller flower-bearing branchlets ; the spathes at the base of each primary branch are membranous, have a short infundibular part, and are produced at one side into subulate point ; the spathes of the secondary branches are smaller a narrow long, (I h; ave a short er point ; the flower-bearing branchlets. have alternate, shortly infundibuliform, truncate spathels, produced at one side into an acute point ; at each flexure of the branchlets are two flowers, one of which is a female and the other a neuter, both suffulted by a shallowly cupular 3-toothed involucrophorum and an involucre ; the areola of the neuter flower is punctiform. Female flowers have a broad roundish base and a trigonous acute upper part, are 6 mm. long and 4 mm. broad ; the calyx is membranous, very short, shallowly cupular, 3- toothed ; the corolla is considerably longer than the calyx, parted to a little abov re the base into 3 deltoid acute segments, its undivided part being very short • filaments adnate in their lower part to the ba se of th e corolla, triangular- subulate in their free part, and bearing linear-sagittate sterile anthers; ovary globose, covered with large suborbicular fimbriate scales ; stigmas sessile, elongate, thick spreading and recurved. Neuter flowers very similar to the female ones, about as long but narrower ; the corolla has a short undivided part, the segments are triangu- lar acuminate ; the filaments are elongate and subulate ; the sterile anthers very narrowly sagittate and inserted at the middle of the dorsum ; no rudiments are of an ovary. The spadix loaded with mature fruits forms a large panicle recurved by its weight, its spathe being destroyed. Fruit nearly spherical, 15 — 17 mm. diam., the apex very shortly conically beaked, surmounted by the very small m remains th long, of the stigmas ; scales in 12 longitudinal series, rhomboidal, broader obtuse at apex, neatly grooved along the centre, of a uniform chestnut brown colour with a narrow darker marginant line, the margins obsoletely and very minutely I "V C. kinatanus. CERATOLOBUS 9 erose. Fruiiing perianth obeonical, the fruit on that account looking as if narrowing to the base, and attaining 2 cm. in length. Seed globular, 1 cm. in diameter ; when divested of the dry adherent crustaceous, apparently once fleshy integument. it has a pitted surface, and an elliptical deep chalazal fovea on the raphal side ; albumen bony not deeply ruminated. Embryo basal. H Borneo. This fi d dist palm was fi described from sterile specimens collected by me in the forests near K in S a raw a later found again in flov the N.-W. of the Island by J. He d in f (Kew He bv B. H k. the B It h; mi 1 b in at libit in D Borneo (No. 3387 in Herb. Hort. Bot. Bogor.). The species is d bv its by its leaf-sheaths being covered with minute seriate spiculae ; b conspicuously discolored rhomboidal leaflets, those of both ends smaller than the intermediate ones; by its spadix sessile erect, having a very large spathe ; by its ovoid female fl divided Dast th to and ( culate f e sin deltoid by its 11 r than the female ones ; by its glob ff ulted by having the corolla being very similar p very briefly api- ob dicelliform perianth The sterile specimens from Sarawak are very variable as to the size of the leaf- sheaths (from 7 to 17 mm. in diam. ) at times almost unarmed, the spinules being in length, and 6 to 14 cm apparently deciduous ; the leaflets vary from 18 to 30 cm. in diameter. In Hewitt's flowering specimen the sheaths are 2 cm. in diam., and are provided, in addition to the small spiculae, with some laminar spines ; the largest leaflets are 30 cm. long and 10 to 12 cm. broad. In the fruiting specimen from Amai-Ambit some of the sheaths are 3 cm. in diameter and covered with minute subseriate spines ; the largest leaflets are 40 cm. long and 17*5 cm. broad. i i Plate 3. — Ceratolobus discolor Becc. Upper portion of a stem bearing the base of a spathe attached laterally to the upper part of a leaf-sheath ; the end of the spathe represented in the preceding figure ; intermediate portions of a leaf ; one branch of th e female spadix. From Hewitt's specimen in the Herbarium at Kew. Plate 4. — Ceratolobus discolor Becc. Portion of the sheathed stem bearing the lowest branches of the fruiting spadix (the upper and terminal part of the spadix is wanting). Intermediate portion of a leaf. From Hallier's specimen in the Herbarium at Buitenzorg. \ 4. Ceratolobus Kingianus Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 477 Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 187. Description. — Of middling size, 6 — 8 m. long. The upper part of the sheathed stem, in adult fertile plants, 2 — 3 cm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths gibbous above, when young thinly fugaciously mealy-furfuraceous and very densely clothed up to the base of the petiole with very minute, rigid, erect, brown hairs, disposed in very approximate interrupted irregular series, later deciduous and leaving the surface of the sheaths scabrid by their permanent bases, arranged in slightly raised finely imbricate ridges ; the hairs ; the occasionally a few larger rudimentary spines appear scat Lered among Ann. Koy. Bot. Card., Calcutta, Vol. XII. \ % t / 10 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. C. kingianus. moi 1 18 ly truncate, med. b ere d bv b lm 7 ged into an liable ligula. L th 1 the pinniferous h ort (40—55 cm. in length) ; the petiole 12—20 cm- long, 6—8 mm. broad, very slightly fl subterete with round margins, beset all d ah ort hach or very obsoletely-trigonous, armed with ternate claws on he d > petiolo and rhachis apparently very fugaciously mealy, later glabrous ; cirrus slender, armed at regular interval- with ternate claws. Leaflets very few, 3 — 5 on each side of the rhachis, alternate, rigid-pa plurieostulate. green above, paler o the upper margins irregularly sul)d cuneately rhomboidal, radiately plicate- beneath ; the base acute, non-ansate ; date and erosely toothed, the lobules occasionally setose-aristate ; the apex triangular or slightly produced, acute ; the lowest leaflets are the largest, 20 — 30 cm. long, 10 — 13 d m Spadi sessile erect, male and cm. broad, those ab externally exactly alike ; spathe lanceolate-elliptical 20 — 28 cm. long, 4 — 7 cm broad strongly d equally narrowing to both ends with a d triangular apex ; the margins at the b ase are nnnu d, elsewhere smooth and very sharp ; th papyraceous • b at fi th and very fugaciously body me is rigid later glabrous. Male pa well ed with flowers and completely filling the cavity of bi spathe ; the main axis terete, strongly sinuous, 3 times divided ; the secondary also terete, d d sinuous ? th divisions of d degree are short b cond ; bi path and carry 3 — 6 alternate flowers ; the lowest internal l lanceolate-acuminate, ou tside of this is a lateral primary b siderably the other larger than the foil d pathes of the mam axis ai tubul sheathing, obliquely truncate at mouth and ed at one side into a subulate point ; the spathels (spathes of the flower-bea b let are shortly fund produced at one side into a triangular acute ead point, w hich male fl the latter provided mall very shallowly cupular, trigonous. blunt, trigonous, thed involucre. Male fl< regularly oblong. f> mm. long. 2 mm broad ; the calyx shortly cupular, trigonous (I • the corolla several times longer tha n the calyx, divid not quite in seen to the base into 3 coriaceous,' linear petals, callous (nectariferous?) internally shagreened externally, when slender subulate filaments, of the petals, and alternating with t h e i r 1 througn I undivided part, striate, and very finely a strong lens ; stamens having very indexed at the apex • ted near the b their callosities ; anthers linear, very narrow, bluntish, the d small, the cells parallel, deh laterally ; ched at the middle of itary ovary extremely line in The female p is strict, always even ft r th e anth esis within its spathe, twice ched the main aiis obtusely angular, bearing alternately not many into few -flower-bearii d b smaller fastigiate bi- ts, subunilaterally b which are divided again 2—3 female fl each of eh is accompanied by a neuter one ; spathes of the b vspathels as in the m a spadix ; botl l ph nd cupular, toothed : the areola of the neuter fl for h )ose 3 mm. in diamet at the b and >wers only, nches and shallowly- m. Female flowers amidate above ; tin olu -j ealyx memb very short, shallowly-cupular. 3-toothed ; the corolla d longer h the calyx, ted a little above the base into 3 deltoid acute segments, its undivided part being very short ; filaments connate bel with the I * % C. rostratus. CERATOLOBUS. 11 base of the corolla, triangular subulate in their free part, and having sagittate sterile anthers ; ovary globose, covered with large suborbicular fimbriate scales ; stigmas sessile, elongate, thick, spreading and recurved. Neater flowers differing considerably from the female, and very much like the male ones, being only a mm. long) and having sterile, very narrowly sagittate little larger than these anthers. Fruiting perianth explanate. Fruit, when thoroughly mature, globose, 15 mm. in diameter, the apex very briefly conically beaked and surmounted by the very small remains of the stigmas ; scales in 12 longitudinal series, rhomboidal, broader than long with obtuse apex, strongly convex, narrowly grooved along the centre ; of a uniform dark reddish brown colour when dry, orange red when fresh with the margins smooth. Seed globular, 1 cm. in diameter, covered with adherent integument, minutely wrinkled when dry ; the chalazal Bulciform, lateral ; albumen long, not deeply ruminate. Embryo basal. fo vea a thin deep, H The Malay Peninsula. In d hilly jungle at L in P 5589 and {Kings collector N male plant). — In the same d No. 2869.) Observations.— the sheaths cove in Herb Oal femal d 254 i coll. by L. Wrag Ju (Herb. Mus. Perak It is a smaller plant than C. di It is characterized ed with minute seriate their fall numerous approximate d spinuliform h leaving aft d muricate ridges ; by the pinniferous part having the largest ; glabrous, a resembling fruit borne few leaflets, subglaucescent, but not mealy th, the lowest b d the spathe moderately large, at first mealy pulverulent, later with trigonous shortly produced apex ; by the neuter flowers not the female but bei verv similar to the in ones on a quite explanate perianth. j by the globular Plate 5. — Ceratolobus Kingianus Becc. Leaf-sheath with' a male spadix portion of the wall of the spathe removed to show the male panicle), and entire leaf. From No. 5589 in the Calcutta Herbarium. a an / Plate 6. f-she with a female spadix (half the wall of the spathe removed to show the female panicle with young fruits inside) ; f Herb. Calc. A entire femal d from No. 5589 Herb fruit Calc d one seed seen from th ti No. 2856 One mature the Calcutta II side of the chalazal fovea ; from No. 5589 in s 5. Ceratolobus rostratus Becc. Kortkalsia rosfrata Bl. Rumphia. ii, 168 ; Mart. Hiffc. Nat. Pal Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat., iii, 75, and Ann., iii, 492 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 76. m., iii, 211 I I) V Pa I m. Arc. Ind. 26 ; Walp., Ceratolobus Hallierianus Becc. MSS. name in Herb. Hort. Bot. Bogor. ; Heyne, Nuttige PI. Neder 1. Ind. (1913), 93. • Description.— Slender or of middling size. The upper part of the sheathed stem in adult fertile plants 15—20 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths gibbous above, more or less distinctly boldly striate or sub-costulate longitudinally, covered with a tobacco- coloured scurf and armed with very unequal spines, some scattered or at times \ \ Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII I *' 12 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. C. rostratus. slightly confluent by their bases, thinly laminar, narrowly lanceolate, reddish brown, 10 — 15 mm. long, often obliquely inserted, others, many more, very small and bristle-like, approximate their bases, brittle and deciduous, leaving after their fall small raised finely muricate interrupted ridges ; the mouth is obliquely trun- cate, unarmed, bordered . by a narrow membranous brittle rim, and prolonged into an axillary perishable ligula. Leaves rather large, pinniferous part about 80 cm. in length ; the petiole 18 to 20 cm. long, 6 — 7 mm. broad, very slightly flattened with round margins and beset all round with unequal, at times shortly seriate prickles ; rhachis sub terete or very obsoletely trigonous, armed on the dorsum with ternate. and higher up and especially on the cirrus with 5-nate or half- whorled claws ; petiole and rhachis covered partially with tobacco-coloured detach- able scurf. Lea/lets 6 — 7 on each side of the rhachis, alternate or subopposite, rigid-papyraceous, cuneately rhomboidal, radiately plicate-pluricostulate, green above, ashy gray or whitish beneath ; the base acute, non-ansate ; the upper margins irre- gularly lobulate undulate, erosely toothed and deciduously ciliolate ; the apex triangular-acuminate ; the intermediate leaflets are the largest, 20 — 27 cm. long, 8 — 9 cm. broad ; the lowest pair smaller and narrower. Spadices sessile, erect ; spathe lanceolate-elliptical, 28 cm. long, 5 cm. wide (in one specimen), strongly flattened, narrowing equally to both ends ; the apex triangular and prolonged into a narrow linear beak, the margins very sharp, entire, the body rigid-papyraceous, , cinnamon brown, covered partially outside with a detachable thin tobacco-coloured scurf. Male panicle much divided into short, very slender, floriferous branchlets. Male flowers very small, 2*5 mm. long, trigonous-ovoid, obtuse ; calyx very small, shallow trigonous. Female panicle strict ; the main axis slender, sinuous, bearing gradually . smaller fastigiate branches, each of which is very slightly divided into small floriferous branchlets bearing only 2 — 3 female flowers (each as usual accom- panied by a neuter); spathes with a short tubular part produced at one side into a long subulate point ; the spathels very shortly infundibular and produced at one side into a triangular spreading point ; involucrophorum and involucre shallowly cupular, 3-toothed. Female flowers 5 mm. long, a little over 3 mm. in diameter, ovoid, trigonous-pyramidate in their upper part ; the calyx very short, shallowly cupular, 3-toothed ; the corolla considerably longer than the calyx, parted to a little above the base into 3 deltoid, acute segments, its undivided part being very short ; filaments connate below with the base of the corolla, triangular in their free part and bearing small sagittate rudimentary anthers ; ovary globose, covered with large suborbicular fimbriate scales ; stigmas sessile elongate, thick, spreading and recurved. Neuter flowers very similar to female ones, only a little more slender, more acuminate and a trifle longer, having, like those, the lower part of the corolla urceolate, but wanting the ovary, and having the cavity lined with the bases of the filaments of the stamens ; the free part of the filaments elongate and filiform ; the sterile anthers are slender and sagittate. The perianth is apparently explanate under the fruit ; this was seen by me only when very young. # I [a Dutch South Borneo. I have flowering specimens from Bandj (Xo. 17 in Herb. H Bot. Bogor. and Beccari) and others sterile f the s a me place ollected by Iley (19 b d 30 in Herb H Bot Bogor St specimens, which exactly correspond to K. rigida Bl. were also collected by Hi r ♦ C. laevigatas. CERATOLOBUS. 13 in 1893-94 on the Snngei Kenepai in Dutch Borneo (No. 2088 in Herb. Bogor.). The specimens upon which was established K. rigida BL were collected on the Duson. Observations. — It is a very near ally of C. Kingianus, which it greatly resembles in general habit and in the spadices ; it differs however from this latter m the leaves having more leaflets, of which the lowest pair are smaller than the intermediate ; it differs also in the spathe being covered more or less with tobacco- coloured scurf, and in the neuter flowers being very similar to the fertile ones. The young plant of C. rostratus collected by Hallier (No. 2088) exactly corresponds to K. rostrata BL, of which I have seen a portion of the type specimen preserved in the Leyden Herbarium. In this the leaflets have no ansa, and this alone is a character sufficient for retaining K. rostrata Bl. as a Ceratolobus. In Hallier's specimen from Amai Ambit, which evidently was detached from a young plant, the sheathed stem is 6 / mm. in diameter, the leaves have a very short petiole, are about 40 cm. long in the pinnii'erous part, and have 5 — 6 leaflets on each side of the rhachis ; the leaflets are elongate, cuneately rhomboidal, conspicuously caudiculate-rostrate and vvhitish beneath ; the intermediate and largest leaflets are 13 — 15 cm. long, 4 — 5 cm. broad, the lowest being considerably smaller. of H dyne's specimens (19 bis) also taken from a young plant is very similar to that of Hallier ; its sheathed stem is 8 mm. in diameter ; the petioles are 5 — 7 cm. long and the leaflets as in Hallier's specimen : but oth specimen of the same collector k howev f a more d plant) has the sheathed stem 15 mm. in diameter, the petioles are 12 — 15 cm. long, and the leaflets 20 — 23 cm. in length ; this specimen evidently forms a connecting link to the adult plant described above ; the apex of the leaflets is very variable, at times being long beaked and at times almost blunt as in Heyne's specimen No. 30 from Bandjermasin : this specimen is also remarkable for its slender stem, its sheaths being only 12 mm. in diameter and encircled by very lew laminar spines, whereas in the other also of Heyne (No. 19) mentioned above, the sheaths are 15 mm. in diameter, the laminar spines are numerous, often confluent by their bases, and the muricate ridges are few and much interrupted. rn The male flowers have been described from a plant that has flowered recently at Buitenzorg (Herb. No. 309). Plate 7. — Ceratolob rostratus Becc. P f leaf one leaf, fi andj (N with a spadix d 17 in Herb \ Pi 8.— C rostratus Becc. Terminal part of a young plant d to Korth rostrata BL, from S K en epa 1 (R er ?s in H 6. Ceratolobus laevigatas Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vj, 477 ; Ridley, . Fl. Mai. Penins. ii. 187; Heyne, Nutti£e PI. Nederl. Ind. (1913), 9-4. Calamus laevigatus Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm iii, 339 ; Walp. Ann. iii, 489 and v, 831 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii. 129. / 14 ANNALS OF THK ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. C. laevigatus Calami sp. Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, 72, and Palms Brit. Ind 72 (last 5 lines.) Ceratolobus laevig v a r . ttgustif Hecc. in Hook. f. 1. c. Ceratolob bangi n in A Roy Bot. Gard. Calc, XT 1 a ( i mus b Miq. Prod h Sum. 256, 594. DESCRIPTION. — Slender and apparently not very high scandent (2*5 m h Ridley). Sheathed covered wiih a to 14 mm. d ed fugacious if -sheaths strongly gibbous above, 1 b when d often Idly, but at times faintly, striate-pluricostulate, armed with scattered, occasionally subconfluent, flattened, broad-based, spreading, denexed, pale spines, 5 — 10 mm. long ; the mouth obliquely truncate, unarmed, bordered by a narrow membranous b B rim ed into an axillary perishable ligula. Le (tves mall, the pinniferous part usually 40 — 15 cm., up to 60 cm., almost wanting, the lowest leaflets being long but at times only 25 30 ted verv near the cm * th e petiole th of the heaths ; rhachis trigonous, d along the d at times powerfully, with solitary or ternate claws; the cirrus d r d elongate, armed ith very approximate half whorl 8 of very sharp claws. Leaflets usually not very numerous. 10 — 12 on each side of the rhachis, rarel; in distant opposite groups of 2 — 3 on 15 — 17, variously set, frequent- h de of the rhachis,. or else d this frequently, subequidistant ; exactly opposite and divan ome of the leaflets, specially the are those of one id forming with th i le one h line ; the leaflets of the apex are d mediate, of the other id the lower deflexed ; they are papyraceous, green on both fac i lanceolate, obi or \ linear-lanceolate, at times very base, where they are furnished elongate nd narrow, tapering below to an acute acuminate and dde with acted ab a moi or less d axillary callus ; are or are, at times, gradually out into a very narrowly linear or filiform tip, 15 — 20 mm. long, b at its apex ; their mid-costa is slender, raised on the upper i limes very sparingly setulose only above or also on both rfac s m faces ed penicillate )th, or at secondarv nerves 2 on the lower h side of the mid very de r : transverse veinlets faint band the ma m is often ked on the upper surface with a broad ►olished leaflets are ins are very remotely ciliate-spinulous ; the intermediate the largest ; the proportion of their length to their breadth is very variable, some be 10 — 15 cm. long and 15 — 20 mm. broad, and others 25 cm an d only 12 — 13 mm. broad, the lowest leaflets are at times very narrow and have a more d b externally alike, b acutely two-edged. callosity than the upper. Spadices erect, m d female on a short d Spath part (1 — 2 cm. flattened an( narrowly lanceolate-elliptical or flattened-f cm 2 3 cm. broad, crrad narrowimr bel 1 12—30 to an acute base, and above to a long and narrow beak, d rusty-furfuraceous, the ed r y? papyraceous )S very sharp. b fi and fugaciously The along the al opening of the 8 pat he is gi is of the beak, but frequently its walls are split longitudinally, these being very thin and brittle. Male .panicle well furnished with flowers, com fill the cavity of the spat he, h anched, its main axis strongly sinuous ; the florif branchlets are d of third deg very short, and / 1 • C. laevigatus. CKKATOLOBUS. L5 carry 2 — 3 flowers only ; spathels shortly infundibul luced at one side into a triangular acute point suffulting a sessile male flower, of which the involucre is small, very shall cupula r, trigonous. a toot lied Mule ovoid-ventricose, trigonous, and obt regular 6 memb hall b d d to the base into 3 4 mm. long, 3 mm. broad ; the calyx the corolla much longer than the calyx, (the several flowers examined an insect). Female terete, puberulous-fi form bluntish coriaceous petals. Stamens had had all their stamens destroyed by straight, twice branched, its primary branches alternate, and divid branchlet having 3 — 5 alternate flowers ; spathels into few fl infundib branchlet h at the mouth, and produced at one d truncate obliquely ophorum cyathiform and frequently distinctly . ped into a triangular acute point ; involu involucre slightly protruding bey similar to the spat he I ; less distinctly 3-toothed the involucrophorum, shortly cupular more areol a f the neuter flower distinct. Fe ma le mm. long, 4 mm. broad, ovoid, having the lower half slightly ventricose ; or i 6 the calyx memb very shallowly ^ down not farther than to the middle, into the corolla coriaceous, parted adnate bel 3 thickish semiovate segments ; fil to the ventricose base of the corolla, triangular m anthers sterile, linear-sagittate ; ovary globul fimb lot bed with large the f sub a scales ; style distinct, stout ; stigmas thick, elongate, ed Neuter very mil ar to the male ones (they had also had the stamens dest roved an insect). Fruit mm form dull. erose. su bgl obos e-ovoid , or 12 — 15 mm. in dial th ; scales in 12 longitudinal ovoid, conically mor b on the very ked. 16—20 ■ 'tlv oedicelli- convex, narrowly grooved along the centre, hluntish, th series, dark or reddish-brown, rather Seed lobular-ovoid margins very fi b 1 cm. in diameter : its face ob being covered by thin adhe (perhap is once slightly fleshj pitted chalaza fovea central, rather deep; albumen ruminate. Emb Habita The M Peni rather common plant Singapore, S d Borneo. It seems a *Malav Peninsul At Mai m the Cal an d K ew Herb 1 1 in the district of 123 6 in Herb. Becc.) ; at Larut (Kings collector N Goniner (Ki No. 971) and in Pas Sel at S Hill (Ridley N Griffith — the type specimen irak (Scortechini Nos. 126. 8092, 7953, 1879); at 3488 Herb. B Buluh (Ridley No. 13448 in Herb. Kew) and Sema No. 12120 in Herb - in S Becc.) ; Dinding at Lamut (Ridley No. 3489 in H following localities (the specimens not seen by me) — Pe (Curtis, Ridley No. 9812); Gunong Keledang (Ridley No. 9808 i (Ridley No. 10220 in Herb. Becc). Ridley gives also the mgf Malacca at Buj K cck ado in Dind Lamut 'dl N 7907,- 10270). In Sumatra it was first collected by Teijsmann in the West at Priaman. (No. 2024 in Herb. Bogor.)— This is the type specimen of C. subangulatus Miq. I have found it again at Ajer Mantjor in the Prov. of Padang (Becc. P. S. No. 519). In Borneo in Sarawak (MerrilVs Native collector No. 1471 in Herb. Manila) : in Dutch Borneo at Liang-gagan (Ballier No. 2758 in Herb. Bogor.) ; at Bandjermasin (No. 22 in Herb. Bogor.). * \ I 16 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. C. laevigatus. Observations. — A verv v v ariable plant, -of which several sub-species could be dis- tinguished, if any value could be attached to the size, shape, and arrangement of nre offered by the spadices, the leaflets on the rhachis ; but no appreciable differences flowers and fruit. We may recognize the following varieties : Va a (forma ttpica). w dley N 12120 d S Griffitl Nos. ] type specimen of C. laevigatus agrees and 126*. All thes line have leaves with a short pinniferous part and lanceolate leaflets, relatively broad and short 15—22 mm. broad, 10—20 cm long. add d at apex d ged into more or less distant opposite groups • Var. BEGULARIS. The leaflets are more elongate and narrower than in var. a and are almost regularly set, opposite-divaricate, those of one side forming a horizontal line with those of the opposite side. To this variety is referable Ridley's No. 3489 from Larut. Var. tical ; 25 MAJOR. The fruit is larger than in any other variety, it is ovoid mm 18 d the d oid, 14 mm 10 mm across. Ridley's No. 7953 from Larut b this variety. V c the type of ANGC8TJ folks. (King's collector No. 1879) f La on th hills is evigatus var. angustifolius Becc. in Hook. f. 1. c. It differ the type in its acuminate groi fruits. dime and from slender stem ; in the very narrow, very ped leaflets, and apparently also in its more distinctly conically beaked Var. « scbangulatus. This is Calamus subangulatus Miq. It differs from the typical form in having the pinniferous part of the leaves more elongate, with 12 — L3 very elongate and narrow leaflets on each side on the rhachis, not grouped, but usually regularly opposite and divaricate exactly as in var. ft, often bristly on the ■ midcosta on both surfaces. It is the Sumatran form of C. laevigatus, and to it belong th& specimens collected by me at Ajer Mantjor (P. S. No. 519). V K BORNEENSIS. Rather robust ; d em 15 mm. in diamet r at her powerfully armed tl le tl very irregularly but not so dist grouped as * in type, relat has some re Merrill's No. y large and broad, the ed spinules on the 25 cm 25 mm. wide ; the spath mar near th e b T this belong 1771 fr Sarawak Var. v divaricatus. This, established on Hallier's No. 2758 from Dutch Borneo, is a variety more distinct than all the preceding. The pinniferous part is about 60 cm. long, with 15 — 17 leaflets on each side of the rhachis, regularly arranged, those of r>ne side exactly opposite to those of the other side, and the two forming a horizontal line ; they are very narrow, the largest 22 — 25 cm. long, 12—11 mm. wide, very gradually acuminate to a slightly asymmetrical point, having a few centimeters from the apex, a small indentation on the lower margin, often rendered more visible by a few bristles at that point. It is needless to note that the length of 18 — 30 ft. attributed to leaves of C. laevigatus in Hook f. Fl. Brit. Ind. is a u lapsus calami. 77 \ / t C. scorteehinii. CAI.OSP ■ niA. 17 Plate 9. — Oeratolobus laevigatas Becc. (forma typica). Ridlry's specimen with mature fruits. No. 12128, from Semangkok Pass. Plate 10. — Oeratolobus laevigatas Becc. (forma typica). Portion of the sheath<r<)} Ox Female spad th persistent subd large spinous spathes, each I hieh, except the lowest, embraces a fer hlet The outer or lowest spathe sheaths a short peduncular part, ami only partially envelopes the others. Flower-b I) short th the spathes, slightly alternate female d, sheathed by short spathels as in Dae rs, provided with involucrophorum and not accompanied bv neuter ones, as no ar id bearing apparently for is visible ; in any case the areola is inconspicuous. Female flowers (judging f the fruiting ianths) have the than the calyx and filaments a shallow d short, with 3 acute points ; the corolla is longer j d ; the sterile stamens form th connate diate (judging from the fruit) globular, having a short thick style and thickly subulate internally lamellate stigmas. Fruit con- taining 2 — 3 seeds, globular, clothed with scales, shortly and and crowned by the recurved permanent stigmas. Seeds enveloped by a very scanty ■i integument ; the testa smooth ; the chalazal fovea indistinct ; albumen homogeneous ; embryo basal. Calospatha Scortechinii Becc. in Ann. Roy. Bot Gard., Calcutta, xii, 232. Daemonorops Calospatha Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 176 (part'y ?). ascription. — The only specimen available is an apparently entire lateral D fruiti wide, spadix, 35 cm. in length, h a short d pedi cellar part, 8 mm ed irregularly with light brown, straight, flattened spines, 10 25 mm long ; the lowest firmer texture th ithe those is oblong, 15 mm. in gtl b 3 cm. wide • of a h follow, but of the same colour d an (1 appearance, d all over outside with ing the floriferous branchl are ab colour, d bfol thinly d unequal spines. The spathes suffult- a deep cinnamon-brown 10 in mb of d very miniit rusty-furfuraceous outside, almost polished inside, oblong, very shortly sheathing at the base, otherwise explanate, with a broad apex which very suddenly narrows into a long subulate beak the latter armed with conspicuous spread straight, ttened, light brown spines, 10 — 15 mm long, ha vi n g a bulb b ? the lower spath blade 10 — 12 cm. long, 3 cm. wide, the beak 7 — 8 cm. long, and are m have the re or less Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. i V 18 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. C SCOrtecMnH. spinous, especially towards the apex; the succeeding spathes become gradually d less spinous, and are more shortly beaked. The floriferous branch- lets are shorter than their respective spathes, 2—5 cm. long, and usually have •anchlet at their base: their axial part is thickish, sinuous, speedily smaller a smaller b form narrows above and carries very few flowers; the spathels are annular-cyath truncate, slightly produced at one side; involucrophorum shallowly cupular ; involucre slightly exceeding the involucrophorum, shallow, subdisciform and entire. Female flowers 7 mm. long. Fruit globular, slightly broader than high, and very obsoletoly 3-lobed, 2 cm. in diameter, shortly and stoutly beaked, crowned by the permanent circinnate stigmas, 5 mm. long; scales in about 24 vertical series, very appressed, uniformly shining black in the exposed part, straw yellow in the posticous covered part, with a V shaped depression along the centre; the apex, acute but not produced ; the margins obsoletely erosely-toothed. The few fruits examined contained 2—3 seeds; when the seeds are 2 in number, they have a flat inner face and convex dorsum; when there are 3, they have the dorsum also convex, ami two inner facas separated by a salient angle ; are about 12 mm. long, and 6 mm. thick ; when cleansed from the thin, apparently once slightly fleshy integument, their surface is almost even, dull dark brown, and with an inconspicuous punctiform chalazal fovea. Fruiting perianth explanate ; the calyx entire with the base slightly thickened; the divisions of the corolla twice as long as the calyx, elongate and triangular. ' * Habitat.— Father Scortechini collected of this curious and very interesting Palm, only one fruiting spadix (or a partial inflorescence of it ?) in the state of Perak, mong (Mount) Bubu, but the label accompanying the specimen evidently belongs to another plant. Ridley gives for his Daemonorops Calospatha the locality obablv on G me of Gunong Kelendang, which is also in Perak. Observations. — It is a very distinct Palm, not allied to any other known to apparently related t® Daemonorops, from which it differs mainly in its fruit with 2 3 seeds, having a homogeneous albumen, a character not encountered in any species of Dae mo nor ops. The peculiar structure and disposition of its spathes approaches Calospatha to Plectocomia, but apparently the first has lateral, non- terminal inflorescences ; furthermore all Plectocomias have smooth (not spinous) spathes. The description given by Ridley of the fruiting spadix of his Daemonorops Calospatha is exactly that of the type specimen of Calospatha, Scortechinii existing herbarium ; of this specimen a drawing was sent by me to Kew, precisely der the name of Calospatha Scortechinii, together with my manuscript notes for the "Flora of British India," wherein however this Palm was not included. Ridley gives also the description of the stem and leaves of his Daemonorops Calospatha; but no leaves accompany in my herbarium the spadix described above, and I ha e not seen the leaves and the stem of the specimens that Ridley considers as belonging to the spadix he describes. Of this he says that the fruit is covered in my with orange scales having brown edges ; whereas in my specimen the fruit is uniformly black. There is therefore some ground for doubt, as to the complete identity of Daemonorops Calospatha Ridley with Calospatha Scortechinii Becc. Plate 12. — Calospatha Scortechinii Becc. The entire type specimen in Herb. R f I .' > * PLKCTOCOMIA. 19 PLECTOCOMIA mart, et bl. * Mart, et Bl in Schult. Syst. Veg vii, 2, 1333 ; Mart. Hist. Nat. P » « * 111 ? 198, t. 114, 116, f. 1; Bl Rumphia, iii, 68, t. 158, 159, 163; Griff. Calc J n\. N Hist. v * 5, d Palm. Brit. d App. XXI. t. 217, 218, 219 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 78, and Prodr. Fl. Sum. 592 ; K ___ F Fl. Brit. B iii, 514 and in Journ. As. Soc. xliii, II, 207 t. xvi— xxvii ; T. A J Linn. Soc. xi, 11 ; H Bong. emll. in Bot. Z 1859, 165 ; I Jot. M uers. in t. 5105 ; Hook, et B Fl. Mai. Pi G PI in. 934 5 649 mins. ii, 219; Rendle in Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. 737 J Hook. f. F of B I! Ind. R M rn. 1897, 73; B d. 'I il d t Large climbing, monocarpic, dioeciouB, spinose, calamoid palms, ending in a terminal inflorescence composed of several partial panicles, issuing from the axillas of the uppermost, gradually much reduced leaves. Leaves of the adult plant terminat- ing in a clawed cirrus, pinnate. Leaf-sheaths elongate, not flagelliferous, not gibbous above, and gradually passing into the petiole without axillary ligula and without ocrea at the mouth. Leaflets lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acuminate, unicostate and usually furnished on each margin with a nerve about as strong as the bristles on the mid-costa and naer ; no spines or mid-costa ; secondary nerves slende lateral nerves ; lower surface without scales or microlepidia, frequently discolorous. Male and female partial inflorescences or panicles similar, simply branched ; the branches very long, spiciform, pendulous, having some tubular spat lies in their basal part, otherwise entirely covered with closely imbricating, distichous, thinly coriaceous^ persistent, concave spathels, embracing and shielding in their axillas the spit-ate dioecious flowers. S pikelets shorter than their respt ctive spathels ; male many- flowered ; female shorter, few-flowered, both provided with small bracts and biacteoles. The male spikelets have two collateral flowers at each indenture of their small slender rhachis. Male flowers slightly asymmetrical ; the calyx campanulate and 3-toothed, or shallow and trigonous ; the corolla several times longer than the calyx, parted nearly to the base into 3 valvate, cartilaginous, acuminate petals, stamens normally 6 resting on a short torus and subulate from a thickened base; anthers narrow, erect, with parallel cells ; rudimentary ovary very small. Female flowers much larger than the male ones ; the calyx cupular, more or less deeply 3-toothed or 3-parted ; the corolla longer than the calyx, cupular or ventricose in its lowest part, divided in the remainder into 3 acuminate segments ; the staminodes form with the connate bases of their filaments a shallow cup, divided into 6 radiating teeth, each supporting a sterile although rather well conformed anther. Ovary globose or ovoid, covered with scales, and having 3 dissepiments, early absorbed, and finally unilocular ; ovules 3, basilar, usually only one evolving ; style very short or obsolete ; stigmas elongate, thick, fleshy, subulate- Fruit globose ; pericarp thin and brittle. •covered with numerous small scales, frequently fimbriate. Seed globular or globular- -depressed, covered with a scanty integument more or less fleshy, and erect in the Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard , Calcutta, Vol. XII V / / •\ V I 20 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. pericarpal cavity ; the hilum small, basal ; the surface equable or nearly so (not pitted) ; chalaza apical ; the raphe short ; albumen homogeneous ; embryo basal. Fruiting perianth persistent, hardening. A very natural and well characterized genus, not having marked affinities with the other climbing Calamoid palms, on account of the peculiar structure of the spadix. The sterile plants however are with difficulty distinguishable from Plectocomiopsis and Myrialepi's, having, like tin se, leaf-sheaths without flagclla and ocreae, gradually pausing into the p< tioles, without gibbosity at the base of these, and leaflets unicostate with thickened mar grins : Mtjrialeiris and PL have the lower surface of the leaflets dotted with minute microlepidia. which are always absent in Plectocomia. The long pendulous spikes, very regularly covered with approximate mi spathels protecting the small spikelets, form the most striking characteristic bich serves to distinguish Plectocomia from all the other Lepidocaryete. \ Jt has been a subject of discussion if in Plectocomia the inflorescence is mon oca r / terminal or axillary. In fact the Plectocomias are all without exception palms, or in other words the stem that has produced an inflorescence perishes after the maturity of the fruits ; but the inflorescence is frequently composed of several partial panicles, each coming forth from the axil of a leaf, which in the lower panicles is very similar to the cauline ones, but becomes gradually smaller in the upper panicles and is finally much reduced in those of the end. Geographical distribution.— The Plectocomias are exclusively N.-E. Indian and Indo-Malayan palms, being found in the Eastern Himalaya, Assam, Burma, Siam, Cochin-China, the Malay Peninsula, in continental Asia, and in the Islands of Singapore, Sumatra, Java. Bitliton, Borneo and Mindanao. The most northerly species P. Mmalayana, which grows luxuriantly in Sikkim, has no marked affinities with those of the not very far distant Khasia Hills {P. khasiana) and of Assam (P. assamica and P. bractealis) ; on the contrary these last three, together with P. Kerrana from N.-W. Siam and P. Pierreana from Cochin-China constitute a distinct group, having manifest affinities in common. Another group of allied species is I formed by P. macrostachya of Lower Burma, P. Griffithii of the Malay Pe and P. elongata of Java and Suma A third group is composed of P. Muellerii, a Bornean plant, of its ally P. billitonensis of Billiton, and of P. Elmerii, growing in Mindanao; this last having evidently a common origin with P. Muellerii. f KEY' TO THE SPECIES. I A. Calyx of the male flowers campanulate or cyathiform. : . of the female flowers ovoid-campanulate, coriaceous, with obconical, solid and hard base. I. Fruiting perianth having the base obconical, bat not pediceiliform in the fruiting stage. The calyx in the male flowers tomentose at the mouth. Leaflets mealy-white beneath. Fruit woolly from the fimbriate upturned tips of the scales. % i \ PLKCTOO'MIA. 21 i * Fi-male Bpikeletg composed of 3—5 flow rets. Fruit 25—28 mm in diameter. Male flowers 10—11 mm. long, sessile. /. P. etongata Mart.— .lava and Sumatra P. el on gat a Bangka. v a k . bangkana Beee ** A smaller plant. Female spikelets composed of 5— <> flowers. Fruit 15 16 mm. in diameter. 2. P. Griffith ii Beoc. *## v Malay Peninsula. Singapore. Male s]ikes larger than in the two preceding species and . with larger spathels (7 cm. long). Male flowers also larger, u 15 mm. long, distinctly pedicellate. Female flo wers and fruit unknown. Female fl late 3 m P m macrostachya Ku Lower Burma. ers having the calyx taprring to a narrow b rz. \v Kiel i r ms a conspicuous of the male H b edicel at the to the fruit. The calyx moil F mm a (not including the stigmas), having anthesis d pedicel and calyx ; the calyx before d d dd d into a Female fl cuj ular 3-toothed ng the limb. hairy. U minate leafl (not including the stigmas) 12 mm. long. Fruit leaves having lanceolate, acute, or shortly acu- green on both surfaces. ' 4. P. MueUerii 151 Borneo. I B. ** Female flowers 10 mm. lonsr, having the calyx smooth and glabrous, parted before and during the anthesis into 3 ovate segments. Ovary densely hairy. Upper leaves having elongate- lanceolate or ensiform very long-acuminate leaflets, green above, rusty-furfuraceous beneath. 5. P m hiilitonensis Bee ecc. Billit on **# Female flowers 18—20 mm. long, having the calyx tapering to a long and narrow m d lower part, and the mi Leaflets lanceolate, acuminate, destitut f of indumentum derneath smooth, the scales not fimb 6 Fruit glob any kind depressed, mammillate, Pm Etmerii Becc. — Mindanao. Calyx of the male floieer shallow, trigonous or 3-toothed; of ih l ie female flower thinly cartilaginous, mpular, not thickened at the base. Fruiting perianth explanate. \ I / i j 22 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. T Leaflets green on both -surfaces. Leaflets terminated by a filamentose male and female spadix) twice as rip. long tomentose outside. millate, 15 mm. in diameter 7. P. Spathels (of the as broad, finely Fruit globular, rounded above, not mam- ; scales appressed, not fimbriate. himalayana Sikkim Himalaya. Griff. II Leaflets green above and distinctly mealy-white beneath, acute or acuminate but not having a filamentose tip. * Spat! toment externally. A Fema of the spikes and spikelets densely rusty-tomentose. flowers having a very short pedic ded th small bracts, 4—5 mm. long, and having the divisions of th corolla uch longer than the calyx. Fruit slightly conically-beaked, densely villose. 8. P Griff. — Assam. * TT Axis of the spikes and spikelets densely Female flowers pedicellate, provided rusty-tomentose. wi t h bracts 10— m the base into triangular acuminate than the corolla. conspicuous 15 mm. long, and having the calyx split from segments, slightly shorter t Ovary densely villose. 9. P » hractealis Becc— Assam. f t f TTT Axis of the spikes and spikelets glabrescent. Fruit of smooth appearance covered with scales having the simply fimbriate and tbe tip not crisped. margins S, 10. P. khasiana Griff. — Khasia Hills. ## Spathels entirely glabrous. Axis of the spikes and spikelets scabridulous. Fruiting perianth with a very small trigonous calyx, several times shorter than the corolla. Fruit of smooth appearance, slightly squarrose, the scales having short ciliate Seel exactly spherical. tips. //. P \ Kerrana B ecc. S lam. Leiflets slightly paler below than above. Sp glabrous. having the scales Fruit very slightly squarrose, exactly spherical, minutely ged F perianth explanate with trigonous 3-toothed calyx ; the corolla th as long as the calyx. Seed slightly depressed 12 Becc. — Cochin-Ch i * \ P. elongata. PLECTOCOMIA. 23 Description of Plate I — B. fl 1-4. Plectocomia elongata Mart. & Bl I 1.— Fern fl Fig Fig. 2.— Male opposite to it. F 6 diameters). ' Fig. 5:' PI Fig. 6. PI, 3.— Section of a male flower Bhdwing a petal and the two stamens 7 A. stamen from the dor F 7. Plect (Fig. bractealis Becc assamiea Gri fl Female fl Kerrana Becc. — Male fl d 4. the others (x 4). (x 4). • (x 6). Excluded Species Pl sumatrana Miq. Prodr. Fl. S P This species was established on very scanty material, consisting mostly of which I have seen a \gata Mart, et Bl. ? very juvenile inflorescences, of portion from the Utrecht Herbarium, and another portion of the same collecting from Buitenzorg ; this last had the label in Teijsinaim's hand-writiug .. N.\ 2034. Sitaboe, Paya Kombo." One leaflet united to fragments of a spike exactly corresponds to the fragment* of P. elongata Mart, from Java. \ Descriptions of Species. 1. Plectocomia elongata Mart, and Bl. in Roem. et. S Mart Hist Sy Nat. Palm, iii, 198, t. 114 and 116, f. 1 • K Veg. vii, 1333 : Plant, iii, 202; Blume, Rumph 68, t. i, 161; Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 79; Prodr. Fl. S inth, E and 163 A, Miq. PI. Ji num. m. 255 De Palm. Arc. Ind 27; Hook. f. Fl. B Ind. vi, 479; R Mat. Fl. Mai. Pe 220; H ii Nutt. PI v. Ned I (191 J 3 103. P. sumatrana Miq. Prod E S 255, 592 ; D Pal m. Arc. d. 27. a D maximus Reinw. in BL Cat. Hort. Bog. 59. A gigantic climbing palm up to 30 in h time. The sheathed stem as thick as the arm at the flowering are obliq truncate at the mouth, have no ocrea The leaf-sheaths in young plants or lower above least havin wered part with a dense cottony y in the adult plant the leaf-sheath ligula, are h t omen turn, and are are in the very ve r y k and uppermost part, along the dorsum ood\ ? k b d slender b large ; the pinniferous part in the ad 2—3 e in th fil a line of d d in the unarmed irmed, at e spines, rm points. Leaves very long ; stout (20 cm. long in one specimen) concave-convex with acute very robust, in its lower portion 5 the petiole sh d margins : rhach cm aob convex beneath, with flat mar wide or the 5 mm. wide. broadly aflet the dorsum is med k e th upon solitary robust spines, cha petiole, with, at first binate, but h above into claws tielled d the sr up usually digitate the rhachis bee on the margins the spines are in small series of 3—6, straight and slightly defl obsol angular and upwards same time ad ds the apex subterete and at the comes confluent claws ; th nore powerfully armed ome metres loner and half whorls of very robust rdinarily robust. 8 — 9 in diamet h the in m . very leaflets cease, and it is uncommonly powerfully armed with harp blacktipped claws, 8—10 of which are connate by their broad swollen t 24 ANNALS OF THK ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA P. elongata base of 2 and form nearly complete regularly spaced whorls. LeaJL distant 1 on ch sid j of the rhachis, narrowly lanceolate, very gradually acuminate above to a long subulate apex and almost equally narrowing to the base; all are on one plane and have a distinct callus with transverse rima in their axillus ; are green above and ashy-grey tli, especially in recently ded leaves, less d so with age ; the mid and the marginant nerves are d d almost equally ; robust on the upper surface ; th dary nerves slend transverse veinlets obsolete; the margins smooth or occasionally and deciduously ?) spinuloup. very The 50 — 65 cm. long; 4 varies with the age of th cm de termed but leaflets of the ad minutely plant are apparently the size of the leaflets ted along the stem ? plant for d ith the level at h the leaves are one reason or an oth leafl in some specimens the smaller and relatively b than described ab the lowermost leaflets are usually smaller and narrower than the d The i/fc is terminal, on the whole very large an 1 composed of several spadices springing from the axils of the uppermost leaves. The male and ed on d sp di are plants ; they are however very similar in general character. The partial inflorescences are 1 — 2 Dendulous snikes. m long, d and composed of several each issuing from the axilla of a 8 pat he ; the lowest spathe is infundibuliform, 15 cm. long (in one specimen), ■toment 2-horned or p point ; the sin truncate at the d above on slightly flattened ceed spathes are each sh side into a broad triangular also dibuliform b m an d od incurved obliquely only at one side into a broad triangular acuminate point ; the spikes when still young h scaly tails with approximate closely inb the appearance of long terete the anthesis are 75 — 90 cm. spathels. The male spikes d long ; have a terete nd axis 3 — 1 mm in diameter, alternately -each othe rendered and diet d by d h d, rusty h i and b very numerous b thel which at fi d are imbricate in their basal parts, but ead or gape anthrsis. and are 6 d 1 cm that is i on a portion of the axis o during f the overlap the spike 10 cm. in length are attached 5 spathels on each d e the spathels are concave. verv b ovate or more or less rhomboidal in general outline, have the apex acute and taper bel dly gul to a narrow base ; from about the middl d are coriaceous, reddish in their basal part, are 4 '5 — 6 "5 cm., long, brown in the dry condith d ab a s b roa d or le thinly d very finely striately ed, glabrous more or less kled with appressed hyaline scales above ; generally the place of separation between the 1 triangular point is marked on very distinct in the lower ai oadest part d th h side d ones ? spikelets 4 — 5 cm., 1 ntermed with a alternately and distichally indented by an acute angle or a small tooth, spathels, but obsolete in the upper tder zig-zag sinuous hairy scabrid axis, mtation or notch two collateral flow* lowest pairs b the pairs of fl shortly pedicel la d bearing at each indentatio >rs are 5 — 9 * on each side all the others sessile and of the axis, the sin bulate b d by a more h fl h b fi< its own, although inconspicuous trigonous, sinuous-lanceolate, slightly asymmet acumin 10—11 mm long, 4 shortly 3-toothed 5 mm ose on br th the calyx broadly campanulate, 3 mm. high, margin ? the teeth b the corolla is \ / P. elongnta. PLECTOCOMIA. 25 nearly 4 times as long as the calyx, parted nearly to the base into 3 broadly lanceolate-sigmoul or at t imes nearly elongate-rhomboidal, acuminate, thinly coriaceous segments ; stamens 6, erect on the short solid base or torus of the corolla ; filaments having a thick bulbous base suddenly finely subulate ; anthers linear, 5 mm. long, sitiuous, obtuse at both ends, erect, inserted on the dorsum below the middle, reaching with their apices above midway of the petals ; their cells parallel, disjointed below the middle ; rudimentary ovary represented by 3 very small linear papillae. Female spik?s very 'similar to the male, but more robust and with slightly larger and more rigid spathels. Spikelets composed of only 3 — 5 fiowers ; each flower is suffulted a short trigonous, rusty BCabrid pedicel, 3 — 4 mm. long, and is prov ided with a triangular subulate bract, L> 3 mm . long. Female flowers much larger than the males ; the calyx coriaceous, ovoid- campanulate, tapering slightly to the base, — 8 mm. broad, and about as long, broadly 3-toothed, the teeth triangular acute, the entire margin covered with dense rufous villosity, deciduous in age, the surface obsoletely minutely punctulate. otherwise smooth or not distinctly veined ; the corolla twice as long as the calyx, its base only entire and lining the lower part of the calyx, otherwise parted into three hard tik cartilaginous segments, suddenly becoming linear-lanceolate and acuminate from a broad triangular base ; the stamens form with their expanded connate bases a shallow mambranous cup, adhering to the base of the corolla, and divided into 6 triangular teeth, having subulate apices and carrying sterile anthers ; the latter linear or very slightly sagittate and with their apices reaching to midway of the segments of the corolla. The ovary is globose and very densely covered by the hairy tips of the scales ; stigmas sessile or distinct even from the base, elongate, sinuous, subterete, protruding considerably beyond the corolla even before the anthesis. Fruits 1 — 3 at each spathel, globular, when quite mature 25 — 28 mm. in diameter, bearing on the round top the remains of the bases of the stigmas, but not beaked, very densely villous from the long, narrow, upturned or spread- ing rufous membranous finely laciniate-fimbriate tips of the scale ; the scales are arranged in very numerous series, are dark chestnut brown, polished, slightly convex and narrowly grooved along the centre. Seed usually solitary, globular- depressed, about 15 mm. in diameter. The fruiting perianth is not accre'scent, but the calyx narrows a little at the base and forms a short obconical pedicel to the fruit. H — The typical plant is indigenous to J but apparently with un- d characters it grows also in Sumat In Java it is d in the amp virgin for of the volcanic mountains of Bant where it is known to the natives by the names of " Bub M . • B or u Resid Palab in Bi of P at bodas {Boerlage in H orders Nos. 34575B, 34587B, 3166B) ; on Mt, Salak (Heyne N Buan " (Miquel). In the Beac. — male specimen) ; at d. 52 H on. the mountains, without special locality, at 1200 m. elevation [Zoll in the Resid of S No. 1380 in Herb, de Cand •ang at Ungaran Telomajo with female 11 de X 35993 in B Herb — pecimen with mature fruits). From Sumatra I have seen only very incomplete specimens. One with male flowers collected by Dr. C. D. Ouicchoud in July 1897 at Toba, 1350 m. alt. in Ann. Hoy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII / 26 th d ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. in W CI Sumatra (No. quite well with the Javan plant. 390. Buitenzorg Her P. elongata- Tl linen ted bv • ■ K oni b in V seems to agree smann at Paya S (No. 2034 Buitenzorg Herb upon w h shed his P. swnatrana has the spikes so young that the flowers lliquel but I am unable to d are not vet them of the same age om the spik of J d groups of 2 — 3. green ab concave, obovoid-rhomboicU part, more or less sprinkl notes of P. elongata are : leaves with leaflets in >, whitish beneath ; acute, about as long m as spad with spathels deep]} broad, glabrous in their •il d with the s 9—11 appressed hyaline scales above, the axial part of ke, of the spikelets and the pedicels of the 11 brid the ma fl mm. ! ong with very sma the female flo bracteoles and tomentose margin to th 4 at mos calyx ; each spathel bracteoles ; the fruiting perianth broadly ob d with very small subpedicilliform ; the f wool I v 25 28 mm. in diamet globose, stigmas but not beaked ; into a long membranous terminated by the small remains of the sessile the scales narrowly laciniate-fimbriate \ d along the centre, rned or d globular-depressed, about 15 mm. in diameter d. point ; the seed I h described the male bodas able d the femal pad from Boerlage's specimen ted at Tij one from Zollinger's specimen. The leaflets are very van- th in size. In Boerlage's specimen they are 4-1 cm. long, 4 cm. wid d have margins d especially the apex minutely spinulous ; the same character is present in all the oader. dist all tin fn are d leafii collected by Koorders, in which however the leafl or elliptical-lanceolate, 40 — 45 cm. long, 5 — 7 cm. d m beneatl but in a young af Heyne's No. 52 f Sal have quite smooth margins as h those that are united to the specimens f a plant cultiv d in the Grard of Calc dis- ibuted und miidentlv the name of P ed 14th March 1891. but which I 2—3 about eed refer to P. elongata. In these specimens some of the fruits contain and have a slightly 2—3 lobed shape ; the pericarp on the whole is mm thick and has the cavity glossy, neatly marked by 3 fine raised lines corresponding to the absorbed di Plate 13 — Plectocomia elongata Mart. & BL—An entire male spike; portion of the upper part of the rhachis ; one leaflet. From Boerlage's specimen in Herb Be eccan. / Plate 14. — Plectocomia elongata Mart. & Bl. — An entire spike with nearly mature fruits; the base of a leaf; intermediate portion of the rhachis with two leaflets ; detached fruits, one opened with two seeds ; from the Calcutta cultivated specimen of 14th March 1891. One spathel with its female spikelet and detached female flowers ; from Zollinger's No. 1380. / 7 Plectocomia elongata BL var. bangkaxa Becc. Description. — Apparently smaller than the Javan plant. Leaves also with smaller leaflets, distinctly greyish or subochraceous-pulverulent beneath, lanceolate- I . I „-». P. qritfith PLKCTOCOMIA. 27 or subobl smooth. secondarv acuminate, 30—33 cm. long, 45— 5 cm. broad, th m a r Male spikes 70 cm. long, d (occasionally ?), spikelets at the axillas of some spathels ; the latter obovoid producing f quite boid in type, but somew as spikes 6 — 7 cm. long at most, be smaller, the largest 5 cm. long, 3 cm. id each sid 6—8 the secondary th same shape as the others ; the primary spik II spathels but of are about and have 4 — 5 pairs of fl on each side 2*5 cm. long fl 1< M fl 7—8 ? reaching ab mid with smaller spathels. mm. long, 3 mm of the petals. Fe the secondary spikelets are very fe w Th m ale Jii dist oad ; anthers linear, 25 mm. 'e spikes also as in type, but pedicellate, 5 at each spathel. slightly smaller than in type and having the calyx more attenuate to the b an d faintly eined tsid The mature fruit not seen th in type. me, probably smaller Habitat.— The Island of Bangka at Bataraak (Kurz in Herb. Calc.) ; collected also with immature fruit by Texjsmann *4 r»' i j} fin i , . , Bebu war The in Oct. 1872 (Herb. Bogor.) Malay name Oar den at Buitenzorg male plant introduced from Bangka is cultivated in th e Bota nic Observations. Ho Apparently it forms the link with P. Griffithd Becc. The male wers of the plant cultivated at Buitenzorg hav e anthers considerably smaller than those of tho flowers of the Javan plant (2*5 mm. instead of 5 mm.) intl the Plate 15. — Plectocomia elongata VAR. bangkana Becc— Branch of the male a leaf from orescence, with spikes bearing secondary spikelets ; upper portion of specimen cultivated at Buitenzorg introduced from Bangka. Portion of the spike with immature fruits collected Teijsmann in October 1872. 2. Plectocomia Griffith ii Becc. Mat. FL Mai. 73. Pe nins. in Hook., f. Fl. Brit. India, vi, 478 ; Ridley, ii, 220 ; Rendle in Journ. of Bot. 1897, P. elongata (not of Mart, or Bl.) Grifl. in Calc. Journ. Nat. H v 96 ; Palms B d. 104, t. 217 A. B. C ? Description.— Stem, leaves, leaf ± the same d d each side of the rhachis, paler or and equally spiny. Leafi cirrus as in P. elong of h beneath. i Male whol d t\ groups of 2 — 4 on ema le e a lso spathels. Fe as in P. elongata, but apparently the male spikes ha sp on sma the P. elong spikes can also be described with th same •less d concave, subrhomboidal, acute, the largest 5—6*5 cm often ked with an acute tooth about mi the upper triangular part The main axis, and th female I the slightly words as for y and somewhat sides. om Ded the lower, d kled with small of the fl dividing d scales. are scabrid and rusty. spikelets are composed of 5—9 more or less distinctly pedicellate fl Th bracts very small. coriaceous, ovoid as long, th j* vers not differing from those slightly tapering to the base R the — 4 mm. wid e d about margin villous, broadly and not deeply 3-toothed th teeth acute ; Ann. Hoy. Bot. Gabd., Calcutta, Vol. XTI. % V 2* ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. griffithii. corolla twice as long as the calyx, sm or slightly / d : stamens having rile linear slightly sagittate anthers, reaching with their apices to midway of the segments of the corolla. F quite mature 15—16 mm. bases of the stigmas, bu 5 at each spat h el, wh in diame b n ot beaked very narrow spread or ed on their tops the remains of the densely villous from the long iate tips of fi m b the scales ; the latter are ged numerous series, are d chest brown, polished and slightly depressed along the centre. Seed d 11 mm 9 mm. b 75 mm. thick. F perianth broad ly obconieal , narrowing a little to a subped base. # Habitat. — The Malay Peninsula and Singapore. The specimens figured Griffith were obtained from the forests near the sea-shore at Kundur near Malacea. In the district of Perak {Scortechini in Herb. Becc.) ; Penang Hilt at 600 in. elev. {Ridley Xo. 7098 in Herb. Calc). In Singapore (collected in 1878 by F. Keheding — Herb. Becc); Bukit Mandai {Ridley No. 3470 in Herb. Perak).; from Singapore Ridley gives also the following numbers which 1 have not seen : Xo. 3487 — Garden Jungle ; Xo. 1665— Koranji Selitar. He quotes also the locality of Mt. Ophir at 1,000 m. elev., and Gunong Kelendang in Perak. S Observations. — P. Griffithii is very closely related to P. elongata Bl. ? and may be considered as a geographical or representative species of the latter. It differs from P. elongata in having the female spikelets composed of more numerous flowers instead of 3 — 4), and in the smaller fruit 9 5 — 16 mm., instead of 25 — 28 mm. in diameter), and smaller and apparently more flattened seed. Probably also it differs from P. elongata in having the male spikes with smaller spathels, smaller male spikelets, and fewer flowers with shorter anthers. I have not however seen male spadices which could be referred with certainty to P. Griffithii ; probably however some specimens belong to it which Mr. Ridley forwarded to me, I do not know if gathered from wild growing plants in the primitive Garden jungle, or from cultivated individuals (they bear the date March 1905). In these specimens the leaflets are narrowly lanceolate, 55 — 65 cm. long, 5 cm. wide, greyish beneath, in the lower part of the rhachis in alternate groups of 3 — 4 ; several of the lowest leaflets are furnished on the upper margin and at times also on the lower with one or occasionally robust conspicuous spines. The male spikes are 70 — 75 cm. long, have the two i main axis slender (2 mm. in diameter) and the spathels smaller than in the specimens cm >vid e and more of P. elongata from Java, are 3 — 3*5 cm. long, 2 — 4'5 closely set than in the latter, the spathels being seven in number (instead of attached to each side of the main axis for the space of 10 cm. The spikelets are 20 — 25 mm. long, have a very slender axis and carry 5 — 6 pairs of sessile flowers. The flowers are 9 mm. long and 4 mm. broad, have the anthers linear, 3 3-o 5 mm. long reaching with their apices about midway of the spathels. i • Plate 16. — Plectocomia Griffithii Becc. — An entire spike with immature fruits and portion of a leaf from near base from Penang Hill (Ridley's No. 7098 in Herb. Calcutta). The upper part of a spike with thoroughly mature fruits and one seed ; from Keheding's specimen collected in Singapore. P. macrostachya. PLECTOCOMIA. 29 Pl 17. — Plectoc Griffithii Becc. — Branch of male d to belong to that species ; spathel with its male b pikelet ; detached male spikelet portion of a leaf fr leaflets. F Ridl near its base : observe the spine near the base of th specimen gathered March 1903. % ♦ 3. Plectocomia mackostachya Kurz, Eniini. Burin. Palms in Jour. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xliii, pt. II (187 1), 207, t. xvi, xvii : For. Fl. Brit. Bu • • rma n 514 ; Hook. fl. Fl. Brit. % Ind. vi, 478 ; Brand is, Indian Trees, 650 ; Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. 2nd ed. 737. I Description. — A large and lofty climber (Kurz). Leaves with alternate groups of 2 — 3 leaflets on each side of the rhachis ; the rhachis in a portion above the middle is very obsoletely angular and minutely scabrid when seen under a lens. The intermediate iflets of the adult plant are lanceolate or narrowly elliptical-lanceo- late, equally tapering to both ends, the broad part b b thei r (Idl e d ad acuminate above ; are 60 cm. long, 6- — 6*5 cm. wide, conspicuously dis- colorous or white beneatl have a r obust d and *an equally strong primary nerve running along the margins ; secondary nerves very fine, 8 — 9 on each side of the mid-eosta, regularly spaced ; transverse veinlets obsolete ; the male spikes are ibed by Kurz, 4 — 5 ft. long (1*2 — 1*5 m.) ; in the portions seen by me th are somew flattened and about 6 cm k and on a portion of spike 20 cm. in length, I the spathes are closely imbricate nted 7 spa th els on each side ; the spathels are very id coriaceous, of a dull chestnut brown colour, d or black near the edges, very finely ned, glab in th b part * slightly scaly-furfuraceous ab concave, rh the largest 7 cm. 1 cm- wide, often with an angle or tooth about the ddle of the sid separat- ing the upper triangular acute point from lower b part. The main axis of the spikes is 4 — 5 mm. in diameter, slightly scabrid-furfuraceous. at times smooth. Sp 4 — 5 cm. long, their axis scabrid-furfuraceous, d usually 6 pairs of flowers on h ide. the lowermo pedicels 2 — mm long, 4 mm long ; ad. si the b are very small. of which are Male flower carrying >rted by 12—1! ) mm. lanceolate, very acuminate, trigonous ; the calyx broadly campanulater- 3 mm. hiffh, sh toothed, th m a villose, the teeth subulate ; the corolla 5 times as long as the calyx, its segments cartilaginous-coriaceous, 1 dulate. acumin stamens with filaments connate bv th thickened bases, suddenly subulate ; anthers linear, 4 mm udiment minute esented by 3 linear papillae. Fern spadix anc i / not seen by me Habitat. — Lov r een at the G Burma on the Bithoko R bet th Y Salween bably not uncommon elsewhere in L Rapids, at 1,000 m. {Brandts No. 539 in Herb. Calc). d the Pro- Burma (Brandis) ) t P. Observations. — Very imperfectly known. Griffithii Becc, but with larger male spikes and flowers ; the male spikes of Xo doubt allied to P. elongata Bl. and P. macrostachya being even larger and having larger and more coriaceous spathels than the female spikes of P. elongata ; further the male flowers are more dis- tinctly pedicellate in P. macrostachya than in P. elongata. * *■ 30 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P I fa seen I this species, probably the largest of the known species onl v a portion of a leaf and two fragments of a male spike. Sir Dietrich dis, the discoverer of the species, writes (1. c.) of it : .. A lofty climber, internodes short, leaves 10, flagellum 2 feet long, leaflets approximate in pairs or in threes, white farinose beneath, lanceolate. 8 — 24 by l| — 3 inch, midrib d two with straight d nerves close unde d the edge very stout, sheath and -rhachis L w horls. spines up to $ in. long, in groups of 2 or 3 or dago of scales stiff linear. Branch of m pendulous, closely red th b ob d b with k borde the bracts with alternate d in the axils of itichous fl. Caly: in half spadix 4 — 5 ft. long, Bpatbels, im hich are the spikelets, shorter than very or ciliate, petals rigid, lanceolate mucronate, stamens 6. Fr. | hortly 3-toothed, limb woolly 1 in diam P Cal l 18. Herbarium ocomia m If of a male flowers ya Kurz pathel sh Th entire type specimen in the in its axilla a male spikelet ; 4. Plectocomia Mu | P. rigida H. W Bl endl m B Rumphia, iii, 7 t. Zeit. 1859, 165. Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat, iii, 79 i % D Of the usual general appearance b of rathe r mall size. Sheathed stem 2 — 2*5 cm. in diameter. L upper part of the adult i 90 relatively sm one from the cm. long in on th o hol t J d IS d by a mod the pinniferous part has 28 leaflets about 20 cm. long and 10 mm. long cirrus d h d at its base ; the leaf-sheath ded with some slender digitate spines along the d d at the the petiole and >s of is striate d the mou are sma The thai most leaves or those those described ab mmediately below the inflorescence have fe fl petiolate, and have quite unarmed lei part of the stem or of young plants are sheaths soft I v tomentose on their lower are more b f-sheatl whereas the leaves of th lo w e r 1 a rge r i n overed part, every part d have the leaf- pose parts d r glabrous on their ex- h, closely striate and rather d armed unequal, pale, acicular spines, the largest oE which are 10 — 15 by their bases so as to form transversely oblique, frequently th slender, feeble, k d ted The petiole is convex b slightly concave near the base oti the flat in angular. th r d the ma r are very sharp. Tl pted series. upper face, rhachis is obsolet d with claws, solitary at fi and then 2— 3-nate, be d at very regular d half in the cirrus ; petiole and rhachis or sprinkled with inconspicuous punctiform scales. Leaflets set in d or s bopposite groups of 2 — 4 on h de of 'th b alternate, lanceolate or oblanceolate, usually narrowing more are rather dde rhachis, lanceolate, elliptical- j base than upwards, d th acuminate at apex, not quite explanate, that is slightly or concave-convex, r smooth, thicken* at her d green on both fac I by a nerve stronger than the mid the dar inflated margins nerves relatively strong, 5—7 on each side of the mid The leaves of the upper part of the plant 15 — 20 em. long, 2'5 — 3*5 diate leaflet cm lower leadet ; i re slightly, d the upper onsid sma lie t • A J wid the i in the leav es i \ \ l / P. muelleni. PLECTOCOMIAi 31 \ * immedi blade more bel dis the fl d out, have vherei the il still smaller and with the attain 25 — 28 cm m th length d are 3*5 transverse veinlets are dist as those of the leaves of young plants 1 cm. in breadth. In young leaven connect the secondary nerves. d are not very close together but in old leaves are obsolete, b il in the parenchyma. Male spik 65 cm. long, inclusive of an lied basal part, which is furnished at the base with a dibular spathe, vacuous bearing fund spat hols which il tnd pass with into several those the spikelets in their axillas ; the main of th •> mm. in d concave, broadly th spathels are very approximate, b is terete, sinuous 6—7 in in d 3 cm. long broadest in their upper third part or a little ab below, and with a wide triangular point above ; aid of about the same breadth )ve, and thence slightly narrowing they are rigid-papyraceous or thinly coriaceous, of a d chestnut-brown colour, finely striate, slightly caly and furfuraceous outside. Sj> very de flowered oid 15—18 inm the lower part of the spike, smaller ab closely packed, somewhat unequal, furnish Male fl* long in numerous, sessil d with very small bracts, e, very rted all nd the axis, very sm b narrowly lanceolate, 4 — 6 mm 1 mm. thick, the lower acute, the upper bl long. th calyx trigonous, cyathiform campanulate, 1*5 mm. high, with 3 acute teeth, and glabrous margin ; the corolla about 4 times as long as the d nearly to the base into 3 linear-. lanceolate segme slightly sigmoid, acute or acuminate, cartilaginous, striate ; stamens having the filaments ted together at their b i d scale teeth ; the obi or linear ; ovary glob clothed ci • s stigmas elongate-trigonous, sub connivent. F< 2 cm. in diameter, globular and slightly dep especially w 8—10 mm. dark chestm fringed mar dist beaked fr sed, often very obsoletely persistent remnants of the lobed ma d resting on its very short broadly apex ; shinin nd b fruit, memb jhtly convex, faintly groved along the centre, having ciliate- ung prolonged into a finely laciniate rufous appressed (not d) tip, giving on the whole a hairy, but not woolly, appearance to the The cavity of the crustaceous brittle end showing traces of 3 di pericarp is lined with a very thin sepiments and of 3 cells, in one of - 1 I 32 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. billitonensis. which and at the base is attached the seed, while in the two others the undeveloped ovules are visible. The seed is clothed with a fleshy rather abundant integument ; when divested of this it is globular, somewhat depressed, 12 mm. broad, 9 mm. high, its surface is nearly even, dull ; the chalaza is indistinct. Embryo basal, slightly on one side. The fruiting perianth has the calyx split above into 3 ovate acute lobes, and its base .very conspicuously obconical and trigonous, forming a pedicel to the fruit, which owing to this addition assumes a general turbinate shape. Habitat. — Apparently a rather common plant in Borneo. The species was described by Blume from a male specimen collected by Dr. G. Mueller on Mount Sakumban in the S.-E. of the Island. In Sarawak (Lobb in Herb. Calc. rw This was the male plant described Wendland as P. rigida) ; also in Sarawak on Mount Mattang near Kuching {Becc. P. B. No. 3038) and. on Mount Santubong {Hewitt in Herb. Kew.-fruit). I have also seen specimens from Dutch Borneo in the Buitenzorg Herbarium collected by Hallier at Lianggagang (No. 2967 male specimen), on Gunong Kenepai (No. 1715 in fruit), and on Gunong Klam (No. 2358 with very young fruits). Observations. — 'Somewhat variable in the size of the spadices, but especially in regard to the leaves, according to the age of the plant from which the specimens are gathered. In my Sarawak specimens (P. B. No. 3038) the leaflets of the adult fertile plant are small, 12 cm. long, 2*5 — 3*5 cm. wide. In a leaf of Hallier's No. 2967 apparently belonging to a not as yet fertile plant, some /of the leaflets are more 25 — 28 cm. by 3'51 — 4 cm. One leaf in Hallier's No. 1715 ha& larger and acuminate leaflets than all the foregoing, being 52 — 55 by 6 cm. P. Muellerii is distinguishable by its small size ; by the leaves with not numerous leaflets in groups of 2 — 4 on each side of the rhachis, green and glabrous on both surfaces ; by the spikes with very approximate broadly rhomboidal spathels, very concave, about as long as broad, slightly scaly outside ; by the numerous male flowers very densely packed into ovate sessile spikelets, very small and slender, having cyathiform trigonous glabrous calyces ; by the female flowers having an obconical calyx with hard solid base, prolonged into a narrow pedicel ; by the fruit globular,, slightly depressed, distinctly beaked, of a hairy but not woolly appearance, supported by the obconic fruiting perianth, which contributes to give the entire fruit a turbinate shape ; by the scales wiih fimbriate-hairy tips, appressed and not upturned ; by the globular- depressed, even-surfaced seed. Plate 19. — Plectocomia Muellerii Bl. — Portion of the sheathed stem ; an inter- mediate portion of a leaf ; a branch of the male inflorescence with an entire spike ; a spikelet of male flowers. From Hallier's No. 2967. \ Plate 20. — Plectocomia Muellerii Bl. — The large spike with mature fruits from Hewitt's specimen (Herb. Kew.) ; the upper part of a plant with a spike and a leaf from Beccari P. B. No. 3038. • # 5. Plectocomia billitonensis Becc. sp. n. Description. — Sheathed stem of the upper flowering part of the plant nearly 4 cm. in diameter. One leaf, from a young plant, has the leaf-sheath softly tomentose in the lower covered part, and thinly, apparently fugaciously, rusty-furfuraceous in / \ 9 r / P. billitonensis. PLKCTOCOMIA. 33 that exposed, and is armed with brown, needle-like, unequal, 5 — 15 mm. long spines, confluent by their bases and digitate or forming short radiating series; the petiole in that leaf is 30 cm. long, wide channelled above, armed in its lower part with the same kind of spines as the sheath, but larger and stronger; the rhachis is subterete and like the petiole is clothed with a soft, rather dense, tobacco-coloured indumentum, partly detachable, and along the dorsum has a line of single claws which become 2-3-nate above; the pinniferous part is T20 m. long; the leaflets are covered below with a thin coating of rusty scurf, apparently deciduous with age; are about 40 in all, the lower ami uppermost solitary, the others approximate in distant groups of 2 — 4 on each side of the rhachis ; are very narrowly lanceolate ; gradually taper above to a slightly asymmetrical acuminate point, the lower margin cm. below the tip in a small spinule, at times however 3 of which terminates 2 obsolete ; otherwise the margins are smooth and slightly thickened ; the intermediate leaflets, the largest, are 35 — 40 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. One of the uppermost leaves bearing at its axilla a branch of the inflorescence, is rather large, has the leaL'-sheath slightly spinous on the dorsum and on the margins near the mouth ; the petiolar part is 10 cm. long, and 2 cm. wide, the rhachis is robust and in the intermediate portion obsoletely angular, powerfully armed with 3 — 5-nate claws ; the leanVts are very unequidistant, and scattered, not very distinctly grouped, very elongate, ensiform, very gradually acuminate to a very finely subulate tip ; are thickly papyraceous. though, green above, rather more or less distinctly rusty-furfuraceous beneath ; the margins smooth, thickened, the secondary nerves rather prominent ; the intermediate leaflets are 50 — 55 cm. long, 2 cm. wide, the lower are narrower. Male spadioc Female spadix as usual composed of several branches or partial inflorescences each issuing from the axilla of a leaf gradually reduced, one partial inflorescence, apparently one of the lowest, is composed of 5 very approximate spikes, recurved and pendulous ; the spikes have a very short peduncular part, sheathed by some empty spat h els and are 60 — 70 cm. long ; their main axis is terete, 5 mm. thick, smooth, very slightly furfuraceous ; spathels 15 mm. apart, broadly rhomboidal, blunt ish, 2 cm. long and as wide, broadest very concave, triangular. about their middle or a little above that ; their upper half widely frequently sharply defined by a 1 projecting tooth on the margin at both sides, thinly coriacious, very rigid, of a very dark chestnut-brown colour, finely striate, quite glabrous, otherwise very similar to those of PL Muellerii. Spikelets very short, bearing only 3 — 4 pedicellate flowers ; the pedicels trigonous, slender, 3 — 4 mm. long, glabrous ; every flower is furnished with a subulate bract, 3 — 4 mm. long. Female flowers 1 cm. long (not taking into account the protruding stigmas) ; the calyx has a solid, very narrow, trigonus, glabrous, 4 mm. long, pedicelliform basal part and is suddenly expanded ^ above into a limb, parted into 3 ovate, finely striate apiculate lobes ; the corolla, slightly longer than the calyx, has a shallow cupular base, but otherwise is almost entirely parted into 3 rigid, triangular-lanceolate acuminate segments ; the sterile stamens form with the confluent broadened bases of the filaments a very shallow cup, lining the undivided part of the corolla, and divided into 6 deltoid, suddenly long-subulate teeth, bearing oblong or linear anthers ; ovary globular-ovoid, soon becoming broadly turbinate and obsoletel c trilobed. covered with scales having a fimbriate-laciniate tip ; the stigmas trigonous, subulate, 6 mm. long. Fruit .... Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XI T. I / \ V 34 ANNALS OF THE «KOYAL HOT ASIC "GARDEN, CALCUTTA - P. e Inter it'- ll abit at. — The Island of Hilliton in the Sunda Archipelago, recently discovered by Dr. Heine (No. 2425 bis fertile Bogor. and Weccari). specimen and No. 3 sterile specimen in Herb. Observations. — [t difters from P. Muellerii, which it greatly resembles, in being a more robust plant, with larger leaves and with more numerous leaflets, narrowly lanceolate and ' very long acuminate, more or less distinctly rusty- furfuraceous beneath, especially in the leaves of young plants, the leaflets of which have also an asymmetrical apex. The female spadix is very similar to that of l\ Muellerii, but the spathels are more distinctly rhomboidal, quite glabrous, and the flowers are smaller, with the calyx having the limb very suddenly expanded from a very narrow pedicelliform smooth base, and deeply divided into 3 ovate parts, even before the anthesis. In P. Muellerii the calyx has at the time of flowering a cup-shaped 3-toothed not split limb, and the corolla slightly longer than the calyx. Plate 21. — Plectocomia billitonensis Becc. in entire female partial inflorescence with growing ovaries, and intermediate portion of a leaf; from Heine's No. 2125 bis. Detached leaflet from a young plant (Heine No. 3). V Latin Diagnosis. — Plectocomia billitonensis Becc. sp. nov. Frondium segmentis inaequidistantibus anguste lanceolatis et longe acuininatis, junioribus subtus indumento tenuissimo rubiginoso indutis ; spicarum spathellis rhombeis, glabris ; floris fceminei calyce parte pedicellari gracili brevi statim in limbum tri parti turn expansa, pra?dito. limbi segmentis ovatis apiculatis ; corollas segmentis acuminatis calycem paullo superantibus. 6. Plect B sp. n. Description. — (Et Le very large ; rh pecies. Sheathed stem about 10 cr near the base (the only part seen d 3 cm. broad, fi me d fly softly grey tomentose, flattish abov< middle, the sides for the insertion of t i , but indu- during the anthesis ; the staminodes have The spathels are larger than those of P. assamica, 7 — 7"5 cm. long, 3 cm i of exactly the same shape, and like them are clot! men turn ; the axis of the spike is also rusty tomentose d with a thin soft the des are slightl clavate, 2 2"5 cm. long, 5—6 mm ck Habitat. — Upper Assam; at least this is the locality given upon the label attached to the specimen presen specimen is from a plant once ed th e H at Cal but probably th d in that d The label bears d a Coll M 11 but this name h b intentionally ck out. A similar specimen exists in the Herbarium at Petrograd Observations. — Apparently very similar in general habit to P. assamica, but as far as it can be judged from the very incomplete specimens available it is at once distinguishable by the more distinctly pedicellate flowers and their very conspicuous long bracts (in P. assamica only 4 — 5 cm. long), but especially by the female flowers having the calyx split from the base into triangular acuminate segments, only a Little shorter than the petals. Judging from the ovary, the fruit lias probably the same woolly appearance as that of P. assamica. Plate 25. — Plectocomia bractealis Becc. — -The entire type specimen, and detached flowers, in the Herbarium at Calcutta. • Latin diagnosis. — Plectocomia bractealis Becc. sp. nov. Floribus fcemineis longiuscule pedicellatis, calyce fere usque ad basin tripartite segmentis triangularibus, . acuminatis, longitudinem petalorum fere aequantibus ; bracteolifi floralibus conspicuis, lanceolatis. longe acuminatis et 10 — 15 mm. longis ; ovarii squamis lanato-crispis. # 10. Plectocomia khasyana Grifi. in Gale. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, 106 : Palms Brit, Indi 106. t. ccxviii ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 478 ; Brandts, Ind. Trees, 650; Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. 2nd ed, 737. P. assamicx Griff.) \V. Hooker in Bot. Magaz. t. 5105, f. 1 5 (non (exci. fig. 6—10). i P. k err ana. PLECTOCOMIA. 41 Description. — Stems 18 — 25 m. long, as thick as a man's arm . (Brandts). Leaves very large. Leaflets broadly lanceolate. or lanceolate-elliptical, tl leir broadest part being in the middle, and thence equally tapering to both ends, gradually but not very long-acuminate above, green above and mealy whitish beneath ; conspicuously discolorous, i.e.. tlv mid-costa stronger on the lower than on the upper surface, the nerve on each margin as strong as the mid-co3ta ; secondary nerves numerous, very slender ; the margins appressedly cm. minutely spinulous from the middle upwards ; intermediate leaflets 40 — 42 and in young specimens in cirriferous leaves up to 60 cm, long and 8 cm. wide ; er the apex slightly falcate. Male spikes 45 — 60 cm. long, their main axis slend lanuginose ; the internodes 15 — 20 mm. long. Spatheis 5 — 6 cm. in length, oblong, triangular in theii> upper third part, and thence slightly tapering downward, the apex acute or bluntisb, the margins ciliolate, the outer surface greyish tomentose in their lower two-thirds, glabrous above. Male spikelets 2 — 25 cm, long and having many flowers ; their axis fugaciously lanuginose ; bracteoles very small subulate. Male flowers 10 — 12 mm. long, sessile, narrowly lanceolate-subulate ; the calyx quite glabrous, very small and shallow, trigonous, 3 -toothed, 2 mm. across, the teeth very acuminate ; petals cartilaginous, lanceolate, gradually acuminate f the base, the points more or less wavy ; stamens with thickish and subulate filaments ; anthers elongate-sagittate, acute, 3 mm. long ; rudimentary ovary very small. Female spikes .... the base by the calyx and corolla, not flattened out, a]5>ex attenuated into the style, rostrate-apiculate, otherwise round, about one inch in diameter (25 mm. in Griffith's figure) dark brown ; scales very numerous, rather small, either nearly smooth or with ciliate margins, and recurved, split, fimbriate points ; when not much rubbed Seed globular, slightly depressed, 18 mm. broad, 15 rom Fruit (description after Griffith) " surrounded at it has a woolly appearance." mm. high in Griffith's figure. Habitat. — Khasia Hills: {Griffith-, Hook. £. & Thomson oxsice.) ; at Shaila 750 alt. (Brandts in Herb. Becc. — Leaves only.) m * Observations. — I have a very incomplete knowledge of this species, which T. Anderson (Journ. Linn. Soc. xi. 12) declares identical with P. assamica, from which, however, it seems to differ especially in the fruit distinctly beaked, not woolly, having the scales simply fimbriate and not crisped. The fresh spatheis ot P. khasyana are described by Hooker as white with broad acute or acuminate tips and with a broad brown interposed band ; in P. assamica the spatheis appear more densely tomentose. I have described the male spike and flowers from the plant that flowered at Kew and was figured in the Botanical Magazine. Plate 26. — Plectocomia khasyana Gri An entire partial male inflorescence from the plant that flowered at Kew. (Reproduction of the sheet in the Herbarium at Kew.) » 11. Plectocomia Kerrana Becc. sp. n. Description. — Apparently a smaller plant than P. assamica and P. khasyana. Leaves 2"40 to 270 m. long (Kerr), inclusive of the terminal cirrus., The rhachis Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. \ / 42 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. her r ana. in a portion near the base (2 cm. broad) is convex beneath and provided with distant solitary claws along the dorsum and with some small spines at the sides ; it is broadly channelled above, has rounded margins, upon which are attached the leaflets, and is subterete towards the end ; the cirrus in one leaf (probably from the upper part of the plant) "is robust and short (35 cm. long), very closely and regularly armed with half whorls of 5-nate claws, with pale swollen bases and short blackish points. Leaflets in groups of 2 — \ in the lower part of the rhachis. and distantly scattered towards the end, conspicuously discolorous, green above, white puberulos beneath ; the marginant nerves stronger than the mid-cost a ; the margins remotely and very minutely spinulous ; the lower leaflets are lanceolate, 55 cm. long and 5 cm. wide in their lower third part, and thence v.ery gradually acuminate upwards to a subulate rather rigid tip ; upper leaflets gradually and considerably smaller and broadest about their middle. The uppermost leaves, from the axillas of which spring the branches of the spadix, are reduced to a clawed cirrus only, terminating the sheath; -the latter is covered with greyish down and armed with small pale, often fascicled, slender spines. Male spikes are recurved, from an ascendent, rather elongate, peduncular part, are 75 — 90 cm. long, terete, and about 1 cm. in diameter before the anthesis ; at that moment the spathels are appressedly imbricate. but become spreading later, are quite glabrous, green and glaucous outside in their upper half, which remains exposed before the anthesis, and paler in the lower and covered part ; are cinnamon brown inside (in the dry condition), and very finely striate on both surfaces, are of a thin rigid papery texture, cuneately oblong, broadly triangular in their upper third part, and thence tapering to a narrow base ; the apex is acute ; the lower spathels are 4'5 cm. long, 2 : 5 cm. wide the upper gradually slightly smaller. The main axis of the spikes is slightly zig- zag sinuous, subterete, 2 mm. in diameter in it's lower thickest part, scabridulous from short rigid branched rusty hairs ; the internodes are 15' — 20 mm. long. Male spikelets 3"5 cm. long in • the lower part of the spikes, shorter above, > very densely flowered, their axis covered With coarse pale branched hairs. Male flowers lanceolate, very acuminate, 1 cm. long, in very approximate pairs, provided with short scarious, brown, broad, acute, spreading bracts and bracteoles • the calyx quite glabrous, very small, trigonous 3-toothed, o -> o cm. across; its . . . i teeth acuminate ; petals thinly cartilaginous, lanceolate, acuminate from the base, the points more or less wavy ; stamens with stoutish subulate filaments ; anthers elongate-sagittate, 4 mm. long, acute ; rudimentary ovary very minute. Female spikes having the main axis thicker than that of the male ones, rusty-scabrid and 5 mm. in diameter ; the spathels are as in the male spikes, much lacerated at the fruiting time. Spikelets 2— 2' 5 cm. long, having 8 —10 alternate flowers borne by very short thick trigonous rusty-scabrid pedicels ; the floral bracts very small. Fruits are spherical or a little longer than broad, 23 mm. in diameter, very slightly mammillate, and beaked and are of the remains of the persistent short, trigonous, connivent stigmas a general smooth appearance ; ; the scales are arranged in very numerous (nearly 50) longitudinal series, nattish and faintly grooved along the centre, polished of a deep straw colour, with narrow reddish-brown edges ; the margins very minutely and densely ciliate ; the apex very slightly produced, bluntish, very minutely ciliate-f ringed and very slightly raised (not - applied) rendering the fruit faintly squarrose. Seed exactly spherical, 15 mm. in diameter. Fruiting perianth ■4 \ \ % P. pierreana. PLECTOCOMIA. 43 not accrescent, quite explanate and sessile on its pedicel ; the calyx very small 5 mm. across, with 3 deltoid acute or acuminate teeth ; the petals striate! v veined, anceolate-acuminate, slightly falcate, several times longer than the calyx, 12 — 13 mm. long, 3 — 4 mm. wide at the base ; the sterile stamens form a flat stellate disk, with 6 deltoid teeth, subulate at apex and bearing small sagittate anthers. Habitat. — North- West Si am, discovered by Dr. A. F. G. Kerr, the 30th April 11)11, At Doi Soetep near Chiengmai at 1,200 ? m. elev., in dense evergreen jungle ; No. 1817 in Kew and Beccari Herbaria. • Observations. — Allied to P. Pierreana Becc. antf perhaps like that derived from i P. hhasyana Griff. It is characterized by the conspicuously discolorous leaflets, puberulous-vvhite beneath ; by the spathels glabrous glaucous in their upper half ; the male spikelets being very densely flowered ; by the male flowers having very small trigonous. 3-toothed, quite glabrous calyces ; by the fruit being obsoletely mammillate, not, -woolly, but very slightly squacrose, having the scales with short ciliaie points ; by the fruiting perianth having the calyx explanate and split, but trigonous and 3-toothed ; and the petals narrowly lanceolate-acuminate and falcate, several times longer than the calyx. P. herrana differs from P. * Pierreana in its larger slightly mammillate fruit, having an exactly spherical seed, and being covered by scales with bluntish not, produced apices; and in the f raiting perianth having the calyx not split, smaller i and with much longer and more acuminate petals. From P. hhasyana it differs in the quite glabrous (not externally pubescent) spathels, and in the axes of the spikes being rusty scabrid. Plate 27. — Plectocomia Kerrana Becc. — Portion of the upper part of a flowering male plant with a spike before the an thesis. Male spike in flower ; the end of leaf. From Kerr's No. 1814, in Herb. Becc. . , a Plate 28. — Plectocomia Kerrana Becc. — Spike with mature fruits ; detached fruits » seed cut through the embryo; intermediate portion of a leaf. From Kerr's No. 1811 in Herb. Becc. Latin diagnosis. — Plectocomia K discol urn supra virentibus, subtus 3 axili scabrida ; spathelli d Frondium segmentis conspicue me tenui, pub d dut b 5 in dimidia omnino crlab fruct t floris $ calyce parvo, trigono, tridentato, majusculis, obsolete mammillatis, sub-squarrosis, squamis apice breviter ciliatis ; semine superiori parte glaucis ; bus sphaericis, sphaerico ; perianthio fr explanato, * petalis anguste lanceolato-falcatis m calyce pluries b / \ # 12. Plectocomia Pierreana Becc. in Webbia, iii (1910), 236, 244, and in Bull ! Mus. d'Hifit. Nat. Paris, 1911. No. 3, 158. Description. — Apparently one of the smaller species of the genus. The leaves that are known with certainty to belong to it are only those very near the flower- ing end of the plant, placed immediately below the inflorescence; such leaves have the leaf-sheath about 2 cm. in diameter, sprinkled with small very short spines especially abundant along the dorsum and near the margins of the mouth ; the Ann. Eoy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta. Vol. XII. # i I * 44 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA P. pierreana narrowing below to petiole is reduced almost to nothing; the pinniferous part is very short, the rhachis is unarmed on both surfaces, sub terete, slightly and narrowly grooved on the upper surface. Leaflets not numerous, approximate in pairs or in threes on each side of the rhachis, very narrowly lanceolate, 15—25 cm. long, 12 — 18 mm. at their widest, an acute base and very gradually upwards to a slender very acuminate tip, rigid, papyraceous, slightly paler underneath than above, with the mid- eosta prominent only near the base, and the margins more or less thickened. Male spadix .... Female spadix as usual branched ; one branch issuing from a leaf is at first erect and is divided at different levels into 3 spikes, pendulous from a rather elongate curved basilar part, which is sheathed by several spathels not bearing spikelete ; the lowest of these spathes is elongately tubular, the following are obconical and obliquely truncate at their mouths ; the flower-bearing portion of the spike is, in two specimens, 35 cm. long; its main axis is slightly sinuous^ obsoletely-trigonous, rusty-fur furaceous ; the spathels are 12 — 16 mm. apart, 3 cm. long, 2 cm. wide, obovoid-oblong, with their upper part broadly triangular from a little above the middle, acute at apex, thinly papery, very finely striate on both surfaces, apparently glabrous externally have seen only those of the fruiting spadices, much deteriorated age). Fruit spherical. 2 cm. in diameter, abruptly beaked from the remains of the stigmas, of a slightly squarrose and not woolly appearance ; scales arranged in 42—11 vertical series, rather glossy, of a deep straw, or reddish brown eolour with either darker or chestnut brown margins, their points triangular, somewhat produced or acuminate and, like the margins, very finely ciliate fringed ; the scales of the upper half of the fruit applied ; those of the lower half very slightly raised. Seed globular, somewhat depressed, i.e., slightly broader than high, 11 — 15 mm. broad, 11 — 11*5 mm. high ; its surface even but rendered rough from the thin, very adherent, dry integument ; raphe indistinct ; chalazai fovea inconspicuous, punctiform, quite superficial; albumen bony, homogenous ; embryo basal. Fruiting perianth quite explanate and sessile on its pedicel ; the calyx small 7 — 8 mm. across, with 3 deltoid acute or acuminate teeth, usually split in the sinuses ; the petals lanceolate with more or less falcate acuminate points, about 1 cm. long, 3 — 3'5 mm. wide at the base, three times as long as the calyx ; the sterile stamens form with the confluent broadened bases of the filaments a flat stellate disk divided into 6 deltoid subulate teeth, bearing small sterile, sagittate, distinctly biauricled anthers. * ' Habitat. — Indo-China : On the mountains of Cam-chay at 900 m. elevation in die Province of Kampuh in Cambodia (Pierre No. 4857 in the Paris Herbarium and from the same source, Herb. Hance No. 19211 in the British Museum Herbarium). It is perhaps the sma species of the genus, closely to P. Kerr ana, and apparently derived from P. kh the flets be paler be than above (not m or It is owdei related haracterized by white beneath); - by the spathels being glabrous, obovoid-oblong, about twice as long as broad by th female spikes h a rusty furfu axis 5 by th e fr being not wooly but slightly squarrose, exactly sph covered by scales having finely ciliate m and slightly ced, acuminate, minutely ciliate fringed points ; the globular seed slightly broader than h and by the explanate fr with trigonous, 3-toothed calyx, and the corolla three times as long as th perianth calyx. ! P. pierreana. PLECTOCOMIA. 45 F P. Kerr ana it diffe br in the smaller exactly spherical f in h than high, in the smaller fruiting perianth, with relatively larger calyx «1 d petals. Most probably belongs to P. Pie one sterile specimen of of a leaf from an adult b a portion od on the not yet flowering plant, d also by Pie in mou (P Pangh at 300 m. elev. Provi of Binh Timan No. 4856 in the Paris Herbarium.) A name u 6 Tn this specimen the rhachis is subt med bel o — 3-nate claws ; hy along the middle with solitary or beneath, th 70 cm. long, 4 papery, 60— spinulous near the apex 7 cm. wide, with the gins s trough d d Plate 29. — Plectocomia Pierreana Becc. One leaf (wanting the terminal cirrus apparently from the upper flowering part of the plant ; fruits and seeds. From Pi lerre s specimen in the British Museum Herbarium. 1 % 46 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Plectoco miopsis PLECTOCOMIOPSIS ; Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 479 (partly). Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Peniiis. ii, 213 \ L seandent amoid, d monocar formed by several branches h palms, with terminal infl leaf and torn (1 Lea ves gradually membrai ikied with secondary of the .a d passing plant cirr V the petiole ; the mou issuing from the th of a red ferous. having leaf-sheaths not gibbous ab ovided with a fugacious ocrei appendage. Leaflets elongate, acuminate, straight, unicostate. mic on the und r d Mai p d/« surface ; ma fl not or slightly thick lets flowering- branchelets elongate, bearing d branched Male fli haying k filaments introflexed at the apex ; anthers d ;ichally several small tted together in the dehiscing w-flowered basal part, ovary very mall or b laterally ; rudime and of the elongate, bearing d only two (rarely 3- and or oi fem Female spadix having the d alternately greatly reduc* flowers, not ac< flower-bearing branchlet provided with only one disciform tuiv ; the calyx cupular-campanulate. 3-toothed ; in the basal part, and more or less 3-lobed or ments united tosr< ompanied pikelets, composed a male Female flc ) corolla th of or neuter flower. + s of a thickish struc- divided and urceolate ther to form a memb b corolla, 6-toothed in the f parted above stamens ; with fila- e more or less connate with the Ovary oblong, oh part d bearing anthers apparently well conformed ated ; stigmas short, thick. F tnlocular, 3-ovulate, the dissepiments of the cells soon covered with scales ed with ged very regularly in monospermous, globose, the pericarp fragile, numei series. Seed a r ather thick fl equable ; embryo basal integument; the nucleus not pitted; albumen Plectoco mi op allied to My ft •om cially in the fruit, (which in Myrialepis is extremely minute scales) ai h it differs espe- Like wise Plectoco the spadices and genera. and much m the di 3sembl d with very irregularly conformation of the female flo in ged wers. >s PU flowers, male and fem in the vegetative organs, but widely different in the two Jion I ha Only two species belong s and P. Wrayii, P. dub with certainty to the genus Plectoco miopsis, P b a doubtf i luded species. Of the oth gemim- species male plant only is kno generic positions remain in the genus Plectoco miopsis (P. paradoxus and P. floribundus), th d in the absence of the femal hat uncertain, th spad d fruit, th mor fti with Myria lepis. that they show also marked TI ie stem of P. geininiflorus, and perhaps also of th H other genus, is distinctly 3-gonous whe species of the same n the plants are young ? but the tendency of the stem Plectocomtopsis. PLKCTOCOMIOPSIS. 47 to keep that shape remains also to the last uppermost flowering d d of the life of the plant, in its A. trigonous stem is a structure of very mi occurrence in palms, only another case approaching that of Pledocomiopsis having been observed by me m a spad of the Afr Eremospatha macrocarpa Wendl. / G distribution, being Malay f Peninsula ai DISTRIBUTION. — PlectO geminifli has a relatively wide i found growing from Lower Burma d th the entire in S it is and B floribu Pecru. P. Wrayii and P. dub are a Cochin species • ted how ited by local varieties in Billiton ted to the Malay Peninsula. P. rever to P. pradoxus growing in < •- PLKCTOCOMIOPSIS. v K THE SPKCIE8. A. Fl id subc onaceous. * Leaves of the upper part of the plant having a very short petiole. Mai e fl globose-ovoid. Female fl b (1 an d obt gonous, biuntish. F tri- with scales in 35 vertical series P. geminiflorus Becc. f Leaflets having the mid-costa smooth or with a fe \v subspiny bristles. Partial ? inflorescences composed of not thick branches furnished with flowers from near the base, corolla of the female flower covered with thickish hairs. /- P. geminiflorus B rigid many The ecc. (forma typica). Lower Burma, Malay Peninsula— Sumatra. tf Leaflets with long bristles on the mid-costa. lets more slend Flowering branch- er than in type. Flowers as in type. P. geminiflorus vwers having the corolla covered part with Pm geminiflorus var. borneens Borneo. Becc. * #* Leaves of the upper part of the plant having a long petiole. i flowers narrow, clavate. Female flowers narrowly elliptical. ■ Date. Fruit vs ith scales in 24 vertical series. ' ' Male acumi- 2. P m » Wrayii Becc- Malay Peninsula. ' \ \ 48 B ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. geminiflorus. Leaves of the upper part .of the plant having a long petiole. Mai e spadix with numerous slender pendulous branches. Mai e fl ovvers very small, ovate, acute. 3m Pm dubius Becc— Malay Peninsula. Male ft dices Leaflt n having membranous nd cartilaginous corolla. Male larg spa- th divaricate branch nd s with th nerves. (*'■ unknown.) # Leaflets long. equid but not d d fl 5 mm 4* P. paradoxus Becc— Pegu / ** Leaflets in small groups with long vacant spaces interposed. Male flowers 3 mm. Ion V-, 5. P. floribundus Becc— Indo-China. Description of Plate IT A. Figs. 1 — 8. , Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus Becc. — Fig. 1. Portion of a male flower bearing branchlet with not fully developed flowers. — Fig. 2. Section of a male flower showing the androecium entire. — Fig. 3. Section of a male flower the middle of the androecium. — Fig. 5. Section of a female flower show- through The same as ing the staminal urceolum (including the ovary) entire. — Fig. 6. fig. 5. but with the urceolum cut through the middle, showing the ovary entire. Fig. 7 — 8 Anthers of the female flower, front and back view. All figures enlarged. ma Figs. 9 — 14. Plectocomiopsis Wrayii Becc. — Fig. 9. Male flower. — Fig. 10. Fe- le flower. — Fig. 11. Section of a female flower showing the ovary entire. Fig. 12. Longitudinal section of a male flower. — Fig. 13 — 14. Anthers from a male flower, back and side view. All figures enlarged. Figs. 15 — 21. Plectocomiopsis paradoxus Becc. — Fig. 15 — 17. Male flowers. — Fig. 18. Longitudinal section of the corolla and androecium. — Fig. 19. Back view of half androecium. — Figs. 20 — 21. Stamens. Ail figures enlarged 6 diameters. 1. Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus Becc. in Hook. £. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 479. Calamus geminiflorus Griff, ex Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, iii, 338 ; Grili*. Palms Brit. Ind. 70, t. 199 A. Plectocomia geminiflora H. Wendl. ex Hook. f. 1. c. Calamus turbinates Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 212 ! D escription. — A strong climber. Sheathed stem of the upper part of the flowering plant 3 — 4 cm. in diameter, terete or nearly so, in young plants more or less trigonous. Leaf-sheaths obliquely truncate and wit! 1 thin dry lacerated borders at the mouth, light straw coloured when dry, glabrescent or very slightly scurfy, sprinkled with scattered conical spines, usually very short or also tuber- cuiitorm, but at times (apparently in middle aged vigorous plan ts) very unequal, • I P. geminijiorus. PLECTOCOMIOPSIS. 49 pale, laminar, subulate, up to 2 cm. long and irregularly set in small series. .ed leaves about 2 m. long, havi ing a sh to nothing in the uppermost leaves) glab petiolar part d d ad, flattish, slightly furrov wed, along the centre beneai I or slightly ed along the centre above, convex ? the dg acute d fe 10 — 13 mm. id sparing!? distant kles rhachis concave above in its lower portion, but with a salient smooth angle d d and on the, whole trigonous in transverse section, at fi single, higher up geminate and finally ternate claws d bel : th with e cirrus is elongate and armed at regular intervals with half equidistant, 4 — 6 cm. apart, (at times more) on each side of led claws. Leaft ceous, lanceolate, largest about their middl papyra- d thence, gradually and almost equally narrowing towards both ends, the base acute, gradually acuminate from above the middle upwards to a very finely subulate, very slightly bristly tip, glossy above and slightly paler on the undersurfa pale dots olepid which also is closely sprinkled with very visible only under a lens ; the mid or occasionally furnished with a few rigid subspiny b id d minute smooth iry nerves numerous on each side of the mid-costa, d veinlets : m acute or slightly ed sm remotely spinulous ; the med leaflets 25—30 ;ted by sharp transverse or very sparingly ai d cm 2*5 — 3*5 cm. broad upper afl grad diminished till th m i n lea\ es are red to only the sheaths and the rhachis, bearing very few and very narrow leaflet m a d terminat l n a d cla we d ad sh er cirrus. Male di more cm. diffi long, than the femal a partial infl d in every part of a uniform fulvous tint probably not entire, is 50 thick at its base, narrows above and carries numer all turned to one sid the the its main axis is 8 mm flower-bearing branchlets are bul obliquely truncate d ciliate at the -mouth, and closely sheath duced at one side into a triangular acuminate point, are fi striate and th d witl 1 d whitish scales. rr h fl branchlets are of their relative spathe with a flattened ped ted nearly at the 1 bottom part, are than the female b 20 — 25 cm. long, flaccid, nodd ably thi nner or dist zig-zag sinuous bet the s ^pikelets or pendulous. omer of flowers tl leir spathes are infundibulifoi ith mouth. oduced at one d d with short a narrow base e into a triangular a wide truncate ciliate te point, and densely reduced to glomerules composed of 5—7 flowers in ail, disposed in two series ; spathels bracteiform. acute slightly concave with a broad base, membranous, striate, ciliate ; involucre slightly fulv h Th kelet and acumi: s are concave, more or less distinctly 3-toothed and striately d ovoid, 4 mm. long, very ob 3-gonous, with a le fl< d b an d an obscurely amie point ; the calyx subcoriaceous, thickish, glabrous, sh broadly 3-toothed, not or only very faintly eined the )id ; ted d corolla broadly petals cartilaginous, ovate-elliptical, acute ; stamens 6, having the filaments in th lower part and forming there a small fleshy cup, each fil having however a short and thick fr part, which in 3 stamens is longer than laterally. Ru terminal leafy in the other 3 ; th b ment ovary none. The ft composed of several & dly ovate, blui ale inflorescence dually curtailed th cells consists of d odd slightly opening a large I partial i I Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII / / 50 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. inflorescences h issuing fr the bottom of the sheath of a P. geminijiorus. reduced leaf ; the branches or partial inflorescences composing the panicle are 40 — -45 cm. long. d carry 7 — 8 approximate, usually very k d stout. d fl b or spikes, issuing also om de the mouths of their respective spathes, and provided with a short ped part ; uppermost branches duallv di of and consisting of 2 — 3 b only. Spath of the main axis the partial fl d obliquely truncate, rather loosely sheathing, thin but angular point. Flo 1 pubescent d in texture, usually split, produced at one side into a tri- be branchlets 25 — 28 cm. long or less, thinly ferr ;scent in every part, having the spathelfl ; the latter suftulting the a k mai axis, zig-zag sinuous bet ted spikelets are obliquely infundi- m have a very d mouth and a narrow b at one d into a triangular acute point. The ipi d are slightly produced are composed of only two, at times three or at most four, equally developed female flowers, not om ied by neuter flowers ; each fl is fui mi d with a shallowly cupular truncate involucre, which usually is of one piece, but occasionally appears to be 'acts imbricated by their more or less connate bases ; externally me d of two b to the involucre is a short thickish bracteole. Female fl< broadly ovoid, obtusely trigonous with a * oad sh, ab mbeallo 7 mm base long ; the calyx of a thick texture, cupular, not striate, b toothed, obsoletely keeled slightly hairy, later glabrous, the teeth obtuse ; the corolla twice as long as the calyx, lobes )arted dow < I covered below the 111k into 3 subcoriaceous de with very fi dly ovate acute short stiff sed ham stamina! urn for ed by the connate thickish filaments, united to the corolla only in the basal part and at least for two-thirds free, terminated by 6 short th F deltoid teeth. apparently glo of the stigmas, about arranged in about 35 (immature) roundish-turbinate, but when full bular-depressed, flatt ab ove and grown d by the small remains cm- in diamete i * • tlld scales very numerous, but very regularly series, flattened, with acute tips and very fi fimb whitish edges, very maturity is fragile, when freed from this Seed appa r e n 1 1 y faintly grooved covered along the centre. The pericarp at fleshy and juicy integument ; depressed, 2 cm., in diameter, with even surface ; alb equable ; b basal. Fru perianth b d) c airman finally almost explanate, not accrescent, b becoming hard and almost having the teeth of the st corolla, trigonous, conspicuous ami urceolum alternating ody with the divisions of the between these, although small er. t Habtt first desci ■S Burma, the Malay P and S Th s Palm d fi by Griffith f specimens collected at M it was more recently found again by S in the Dist G (M Tambang Batak (Scort. No. 283b in Herb. Becc ;; Rotang Rahilang. is to P. M Ridley gives for his m a s biaatus of Perak Malay was and on name ijk the locality of Ivwala Pilah in Neg 1 th native name " Rotang Helang." which exactly Sembilan, and In Sumatra it has been found with mature fruit, corresponding in every respect to the Malayan plane, by Dr. Heyne in Lampong (No. 87 in Herb. Bogor. and Becc.) ■ and in Palembang (No. 26) in the very young stage with sharply 3-cornered sheaths' I \ t t \ \ P. gemim'florus. PLKITOCOMIOPSIS. 51 having th flat sides 1 cm. wid I the ked cane also with rather sharp angles ; the 15 — 20 mm. abo\ Scortechini moil of the f-sh is irregularly truncate* the insertion of the petiole, d ciliate on h also need rgin . ha d in Perak a specimen from a young plant of this Pal m aving trigonous sheaths and stem. The m plant Keheding in Singapore (Herb d from a plant a). H d at B I h ve w a s ved llected o a mal Fra ?i z e specimen an d l 8 Femal oduced from Palemhang specimens, apm not d from those of are Jfeebolds No. 1523 i from Malacca, Tenasserim b. B and No. 29378 of the H Gov xSl . of India, from the T of the Reporter on E et-wa forest, also in Ta Prod to the B Th last specimen forwarded to me b M k differs from the inns, and ma Malacca ones in having the leaflets more distinctly spinulosis on the in the perianth of very young fruits having the calyx covered with the same of hairs that cover the petals ; in this specimen also the first portion of the rh is prickly on the upper surface. kind Observations. — It is a fine and curious palm, which certainly in the young stage has a sharply trigonous stem, clothed also with trigonous sheaths. It is allied only to P. \Vra}jii > hut it is a larger plant than it and has different male and female flowers, although of a similar structure ; in this respect differing from P. paradoxus and P. Jloribundus, the female flowers and fruit of which being unknown are hardly comparable with the typical species of the genus Plectocomiopsis. My description of the male spadix has been drawn up from a specimen col- Franz Keheding at Singapore in May 1878 (Herb. Becc), which is lected accompained by a portion of a leaf not differing in the slightest detail f leaves of the typical specimen of the female plant. rom the In the supplement to Calamus (Annals Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta Vol. XI, suppl. p. iii) I had deduced C. turbinatus Ridley to Plectocomiopsis W, r ay 1 1 B but after the inspection of the type specimen, kindly forwarded to me ecc, by Mr. Ridley himself, I have no doubt that it corresponds exactly to the fruiting plant of P. geminijlorus Becc. Plate 30. — Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus Becc. — Branch of the spadix with male flowers in bud ; portion of a leaf. From Franz Keheding.'s specimen in Herb. Becc. Plate 31. — Plectocomio of the lowest partial itifi flo Becc. Upi of plant th one with not quite mat fruits. Po of th thed stem from an adult but not yet flowering 1 plant ; ediate portion of a leaf. From S No. 28M in H Becc. \ 12. Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus var. btllitonensis Becc. Description. — Sheathed stem 2 — 2*5 cm. in diameter. Leaf sheaths of vigorous rusty furfuraeeous, variously armed, at times but not yet flowering plants, thinly densely, with very unequal, subulate, flattened spines, 10 — 20 mm. long or small er the mouth oblique, bordered with an elongate, thinly membranous, exsuccous, lace- rate, speedly deciduous ocreiform appendage, and often provided at the base of the A.HN. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII i i 52 o ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. geminijli petiole with a few spines longer than others ; in the leaves of the flowering panicle the she culiform. Th are less spinous and at times the spines are shore and tuber- very sh the gate of the panicle, and more elon- d more prickly in young plants ; the rhachis is prickly on th surface in its first portion. Th upper furnished ab are as in the type, but are in add on the d with a few 10 — 15 mm. Ions;. The / lets are usually more s more concave and almost disciform, usually distinct] sprtfliji is a- conspicuous bristles, at times b the b b ider and have the spatheis bracteifor ded more sudden h Involucres of the flowers almost explanate. has appre the ssed calyx b formed by two imbricate bi )ns on the corolla The fruiting 1 nerianth the di / d th sh ff d the three lobes of the staminal urceolum alternating with the segments of the corolla, thick, triangular and acutely keel quite mature) globular-turbinate, perhaps smaller than in type, oth scales in 37 longitudinal series. Fruit (not > identical : Habitat. — The Island of Billiton in the Sunda Strait {Heyne No. 6 and 2428 bis in Herb. Bogor and Beccari). / \ Observations.— It differs from the peninsular plant in the leaf sheaths more spinous ; in the leaves with prickly rhachis ; in the leaflets with long bristles on the mid-costa i in the spadix not having so thick flower-bearing branchlets, and in the spatheis with a more spreading and almost bracteiform limb. Plate 32. — Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus var. billitonensis Becc. — The end of a plant with immature fruits ; one of the uppermost leaves. From Heyne's specimen in Herb. Becc. 16. Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus var. bobneensis Becc. S \ i Bofc. Bog.; Heyne, Nuttige Plectocomiopsis sp. Becc. in Winkler Beitr. etc. in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 48. (1912). 92. P. borneensis Becc. Msa. name in Serb. J Tort. PL van Nederl. Ind. (1913) 103. Calamus triqueter. Becc. Malesia, iii, 62. Mijrialepis triqueter. Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. B Nutt. PI. van Nederl. Ind. (1913), 103. Ind. VI i 480. H ( D Sheathed stem of th 3 cm. in diameter, si i Leaf sheaths striate mm. long at most but frequ upper part- of the flowering plant about bterete, more or less dist d ar d Wl ith trigonous in young individ numerous small ' ed ess, or also tuberculiform spines uais. 5—7 mou of the leaf hi as a more or less in young leaves the duced into a thinly memb d margin and at h d is pro- at times elongate, lacerate, f appendage. The petiolar part is short in the upper leaves i elongate in the lower ones. Leafii and apparent lv is as in fe 1) iio type, having smooth or long, on the mid ab Th is apparently very large ; an entire partial infl margins and a flowering female panicle seen by me one / \ P. gemim'florus. of the lowest, has the main axis (18) „ dependent flower-bea slender elongate pedicellar bearing spathels, otherwise PLECTOC0MI0PS1S. 53 d is branchl 15 cm. long, and carries numerous 30 part, \\ hid i 18 the flower- 1 1 1 type, and have the spathels covered with fulvous cm. long-, including a rather d by vacuous or non-flower- 6 of the vacuous or nc are similar to thos are mor the acuminate ; the involucre is shallowly concave, trigonous, fi sed hairs as usual, but mav th I. are also acute d filiate. F<> occasionally throe at each spathel. apparently subhermanhrodite, vei and obtusely trigonous, bluntish, about 6 mm. long, 5 nun. broad cupular, of a th structure, and has a subcallous broad bas >ly ciliate on mers two or roadly ovoid the calyx is slightly hairy-] apillose, but later glab th e, is broadly 3-toothed e corolla is twice as calyx, segrne ted d cove re below the long as the d de with ve ri- ddle into 3 pergamentaceous, concave, ovoid, acute ed very thin hyaline scales. Staminal urceolum thickish, almost entirely free from the corolla, only a little shorte r it d enclosing the pistil; the mouth of the tulx* than is gular teeth, representing the filaments, carved ded into 6 short trian- \ d normally developed, b > each toot I i bea ovate, Bubdidv rs an almost s ant In » r th e and h linear. ars above a ring of fe connivent, obtuse. Fr young ovary is oblong large imbricating scales ; stigmas thickish, broadly k Habit variety b( The type / specimen representing this almost fully developed female flowers apparently id was Winkler at Hay in S B N 2401 H Sp in the Breslau ther distim cted by D r. d B from young plants also referable to thi Nos. 20 bis and 11 (Herb. Bogor. and Becc.) from Bandj s variety are Ht d 11108 bly also Becc. P. B. X Sarawak. an ne s pro- the type of C. triqueter, from Mt. Mattang in • Observatto partial infl It diffe the rather elongate ped corolla, which is for from the plant growing in the having fa • part, P in more numerous spikes, and fu led with a d d especially in the small flattened «1 thickish hairs. Heyne's sterile specimens No. 20 bis from B wentum covering the ed scales, and not by dei ha\ obt r conspecific with Winkler's trigonous, densely prickly le; > angles ; the naked stem h No. 2401, b b are evi- heath ong to younger plants ; they about 2 cm. in diameter, with rather rather elongate and trigonous. is rather sharply trigonous ; the petiole is Oth specimens om djermassin (Herb. Bogor. N as belonging to still younger plants than the for trigonous, f-sheaths with th sid only 8 — 12 mm. wide, and the 20) which I consider have slender, acutely ghtly prickly or almost smooth; at the mouth the sheath opposite to the petiole a ligula some rather elongate and trigonous ; the elongate d liable fe pa r t h angled very on the side the petiole is I in a are slend dime very cirrus ; the leaflets have no b ded with 3—4 few leaflets, on the mid d nerves on plants of this Plecto are much less sac& side of it. ckly than the ad Appa and ends costa, and the young \ 54 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. wrayii. I scarcely doubt that to the same variety of PI to be reduced a mus triqueter B (P. B. No. 2079). The specimen upon which this species was established is very similar to those described abova ; its rather h trigonous sheathed stem has the 3 sid or faces ooth, slightly convex, 15 — 18 mm. d and the angles prickly ; the leaflets have a d nerve on each side of the mid more -i tha the oth nerves, so as to nd th leaflets almost 3-eostulate. Plate 33. — Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus var. borneensis Becc. — An entire female partial inflorescence with nearly fully developed flowers. Intermediate portion of a leaf. From Winkler No. 2401. Plate 34. — Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus var. borneensis Becc. — The entire speci- men P. B. No. 2079. the type of Calamus triqueter Becc. in Herb. Becc. 2 Plectocomiopsis Wrayii Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 480. PL geminiflorus (non Griff. 1 ) Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 214 (rartly). Description. — Rather slender and very highly scandent. Sheathed stem of the flowering end 18 — 22 mm. in diameter, obsoletely 3-gonous. Leaf-sheaths not gibbous above, passing very suddenly into the petiole, exactly truncate horizontally at the mouth, of a light colour, very slightly scurfy at first, later glabrescent, sparingly armed with very short, conical, sharp, scattered, pale prickles, or almost smooth ; no trace of ocrea or ligula. Leaves of the flowering end provided with a petiolar part 8 — 14 cm. long, 8 — 10 mm. wide, flattish and slightly furrowed along the centre above, an leraeath convex and armed along the centre with distant spines, the margins acute and armed with similar distant short, broad-based spines ; the rhachis is thinly and fugaciously rusty furfuraceous below, and armed there with distant, at first single, and upwards geminate and then ternate claws ; it is concave along the centre in its lower portion, and above upward it has a salient smooth acute angle, and is trigonous in transverse section ; the cirrus is elongate and armed at regular intervals with half whorls of elaws. The pinniferous part, in leaves of the flowering end, is 0'70 cm. — 1 m. long, is shorter in the uppermost leaves and in the lower ones almost certainly is longer. Leaflets rather numerous, equidistant, papyraceous, very narrowly lanceolate, largest about their middle, and thence gradually and almost equally narrowing towards both ends, very gradually long-acuminate from about the middle to a very fine capillary smooth or very slightly spinulous i tip ; the base acute and more or less callous at its axilla ; both surfaces green, the lower slightly paler and duller than the upper and under a strong lens, very minutely, though not very distinctly dotted ; the mid-costa is slender, usually * slightly bristly towards the end on the upper surface ; secondary nerves 5 — 6 on * each side of the mid-costa, but frequently hardly distinguishable from the tertiary ones, rather strong and numerous ; transverse veinlets short, very sharp on the upper surface ; margins not or only very slightly thickened and quite smooth ; the intermediate leaflets are the largest, 30 — 35 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, those of both ends gradually smaller; the leaves belonging to the uppermost branches of the inflorescence are gradually reduced to the sheaths only, and to the rhachises bearing i ♦ ft / r P. wrayii. PLECT0C0MI0PSIS. 55 a few very narrowly linear rudimentary d horter cirrus. The ma le terminal panicle, ( from the axilla of a ed of several b luced leaf ; a b 50 cm. long, those of the end of the panicle are grad h a rather robust d their axillas th e spicigerous branchlets. greenish even when dry, tubular infui in the exposed part, finely striate, pub eaflets, and terminating in a slender clawed iflorescence forms a rather large compound inches or partial inflorescences, each issuing apparently one of the lowest, is about lally smaller ; the branches hed by spat lies bearing in The spathes of the main axis are main axis, and are sh dibuliform 15 — 20 mm. long mou The i and i pikelet-b oduced at one ariner branchlets d are spathes h the position they occupy on the partial infl almost horizontally truncate at their into a triangular acute or acuminate point. of their respective according to ted near the bott a flattened pedicellar part, and are variable in length 25 cm. long d b r d the largest branchl are shorter, and have proportionally fewer fl 18—20 spikelets on each d • ' » others are much furfuraceous, especially in their basal part, finely spathes of the b rusty- th ths rather d veined, bulifo truncate, ciliate on the mar an into a triangular acute or acuminate point. oduced at one d Male spikelets scorpioid, i little inside the mouth of their respective spathes; the lowest and largest ted a 10—12 mm long, assurgent, closely d have the fl 1 flowers ; upper spik in two series, each composed of i are x ad s mal I er d hall d concave, bid 1. ith fewer involucre on the d e next to th formed by two bracts connate by their b striately veined, iliate and slightly hairy clavate, obtusely axis, or as if it were a scurfy. apiculate, 5 mm. long, 1 mm spathels and involucra strongly Male thick : panulate, of a thickish texture, glabro 3-toothed, the teeth either acute or calyx, solid in its lower part, divided and thickish ncers terete, slightly the calyx urceolate-cam- not striately veined, shortly and b h the corolla twice as long as the in its upper sh lobes ; stamens biseriate ; the fil part of the corolla, have a thick almost bul d into 3 semi-oval" acute are base d a subu ends ) apex ; a d introrse th ed at the upper very suddenly ii s b d short, subdidj lird xed the cells obtuse at both ? Female z'/ifii rudimentary ovary represented by 3 very apparently smaller than the male, ai sma b papillae branched partial inflorescences ; the 5 b one seen by me is ab th Ld b: branchlets ; the main axis closely sheath the branchlei is sinuous, its fl at the base on the sid d with shorter and less >ut 20 cm. long, and has spathes are tubular- s -of the insertion of are 8—13 cm Ion cr h zig-zag sinuous, have the spathels angular, shortly infundibuliform. into a bracteiform, spread triangular, acute limb. mm. at the suddenly exi ded pair of fl are alternate, di h spathel, not accompanied Spikelets reduced to' only one d neuter ones ; the pairs of flowers 8 — 10 on .each side of the b lob ophorum is visible ; involucre flat, no acute. Female fit b ilobed, striately 1 cm. long, narrowly d in the upper part ; calyx of a thick texture, cupular-campanulate, obsoletely >d, the conical b thick d bed, the lobes bluntish ; the corolla about twice very d almost woody, finely striately as long as the calyx, d and very minutely- I 56 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. P, papillose tside. tubul ded in its upper £ apieulate lobes ; filament of the stamens d to di part of the corolla, free above and d of which 3 are longer than the ot h e r 3; all * . mrth into 3 semi-ovate m a tube adnate to the 6 very thick, short lobes d with w ell date-sub lid anthers, giving to the flowers the appearance of being he med ma phrodite ; ovary oblong, bearing ab ly (1 thick conical stigm eonicallv beaked d Fruit globular-tu about 24 vertical d al linated briefly centre. wi ifcli darker intramarginal line, and pale finely ciliate margins and bluntish apices. Ft nornlla. and the connate s • . * pe th not accrescent but becoming woody th r amina inal tube splitting into irregular very thick lobes. Habitat. — The Malay Peninsula : Suiigei Larut plain in the district of Perak (L. Wray Jun. No. 2421, male plant, and No. 2422 with female flowers — in Herb. Mus. Perak and Gale. ; and King's collector No. 5282 Herb. Calc, specimen with young f raits). Probably to P. Wrayii belongs a specimen from a young plant collected by Scortechini (No. 4575 in Herb. Becc.) also in the district of Perak, aloncr rivers in wet-ground ; native name " Rotang tiga saki " meaning the " trigonous itotang. Ob M It is evid r d to P ifl but quite d by its leaves (even those of the uppermost part of the plant), having a rather elongate petiolar part ; by the spadices being considerably sma thinner ii o ch narrow b especially by the fl both male and female : the male being very and clavate, the female elongate-elliptical and acute, and with the a mm tube almost entirely connate with the corolla ; and finally it differs by the smaller fruit, having fewer series of scales. Scortechini's specimen No. 457, mentioned above, is taken from a young plant ; the sheathed stem has 3 distinct although rather obtuse angles, the faces are 15 mm •wi d slightly convex and sprin d with short conical prickles ; the naked cane is also trigonous with the face 1 cm wid e. I n fi state of their life it seems impossible to sh P Wrayii from P. geminiflorus, for certainly both at that stem is main- time have trigonous stems. In P. Wrayii that abnormal shape of the t.iined also, although rather faintly, in the te mm Plate. 35. — Plectoc \\ avu Becc. il part of the plant. i of the male partial inflorescence (wanting the e«nd). The type specimen Wray No. 241 in the Calcutta Herbarium. Plate. 36.— Plectocomiopsis Wrayii Becc— One of the female partial inflores- cences. From the type specimen No. 2422 in the Herbarium at Calcutta. Young fruits and a detached fruiting perianth. From King's collector No. 5282 in the Calcutta Ilebarium. 3. Plectocomiopsis dubius Becc. sp. n. t P. geminiflorus (non Becc.) Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 214. \ Description. a large climber, 20 or more metres tall (Ridley). Sheathed stem ? very obsoletely trigonous, 3*5 cm. in diameter in the specimen seen me. Leaf- sheaths not puckered above, very suddenly passing into the petiole, truncate exactly I "VH- P. dubius. PLECT0C0M10PSI*. 57 / horizontally glabreseent, at the mouth, of a light colour, at first very slightly scurfy, later med ra ther d with very short conical, sharp, scattered, \ ale prickles ; no trace of ocrea or ligula. od large ; the one seen by me apparently onging to the mediate part of the plant, has a rather elongate petiolar part, 15 mm. br slightly fy h ab centre, d an d med along the d e and with d h margins acute and ided with d h ed along the small spines ; of the pinniferous part is thinly furfu broad-based spines ; the rhachis especially beneath, where armed with distant, at first single, then gemin and finally 3-nate claws ; it is concave ab along the centre in its lower portion, and is trigonous in transverse section ds ; the cirrus is very long, and armed at very regular intervals with half- whorls of not very strong claws. \ ea iflets d 5 — 6 cm. apart on ch id firmly papyraceous, lanceolate, largest about their middle, grad d almost equally narrowing 1 callous at its axilla and rds both derneath ds th the 1) acute and more or less adually acuminate from above the middl ds to a very fi capillary, slightly b and d dots. on the undersurface. tip, glossy above, slight I h is closely kled with v bl only dot a lens ; the mid very m furnished with 1 — 2 straggling spinules ; the is id on each side of the • d unequal d paler pale or occasionally nerves are numerous, 10 — 12 d by sharp transverse veinlots ; de sm margins not or only very slightly thickened, quite smooth ; the intermediate leaflets are 45 — 38 cm. long, 3 — 4 cm. broad ; the upper leaflets gradually diminish until few ppermost reduced th heath d rh in size, very narrowly linear leaflets and term only, the latter bearing m a slender ed cirrus. >fl of several ches or partial inflorescences, eacl l to om leaf ; one of the b (apparently one of the lowest) is about 65 ed, gradually cle, composed of a reduced has cm a rather robust arched main axis, and is axillas pendulous. d {main axis are greenish even about 15 mm. long in d spikelet when dry thed by spathes bearing in their branchlets. mg, hor the ed truncate at their mouths (I fi oduced at one acute or acuminate point. The spikelet-bearing branchlet bottom of their respective spathes through a flattened ped ilets. The spathes of the dibuliform, closely sheath- striate, puberulous, almost de into a triangular inserted near the are r part, are of vari- ble 1 according to the d of 1 the position they occupv on the partial* inflorescences ; the largest are 30 — 45 cm. long d b r d up to 30 — 35 spikelets on each side ; others are only 10 — 15 cm. long with proportionally fe spikelets ; spathes of the b ed slightly scaly-scurfy, striatelv form, the mouths rather wide, truncate, ciliate on th d at one side into a triangular subulat point-. e margin d d a littl e m sid e the mou of their respective Male spikelets seorpioid, rh the lowest largest s composed d kelets 10 — 12 mm. long, bea in 2 series, each series bei ns ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. P. paradoxus Male flowers very small, about 2 mm. long (when not full grown) ovoid, acute ; the calyx 3-toothed, strongly striately veined ; the corolla deeply parted into 3 ovate lobes ; stamens connate by their bases ; filaments very thick. Habitat. — The Malay Peninsula at Rantau Panjang in the State of Selangor. Collected by Ridley in August 1904, No. 12119, (specimen with not fully deve- loped male flowers. Observations. — It is a very imperfectly known and doubtful species, only the spadices of the male plant having been as yet collected, and these bearing flowers not fully developed. Therefore the specimens upon which the species is established are not exactly comparable with those of P. Wrayii, to which P. dubius seems how- ever closely related. We may even suppose that P. dubius represents a juvenile stage of P. Wrayii, from which it apparently differs in the flowers having a strong- ly striately veined calyx, and in the corolla ovate and deeply parted, if its shape does not change when it attains its full development ; further the leaflets of P. dubius have apparently far more secondary nerves than those of P. Wrayii, and are more distinctly dotted underneath. In conclusion ; P. dubius, established on Ridley's No. 12119, must be considered as yet as a doubtful species, but certainly not referable to P. geminiflorus as has been stated by Ridley c). In Ridley's description of P. geminiflorus are incorporated characteristics not only belonging to that plant, but also to P. dubius and to P. Wrayii. \ • \ Plate 37. — Plectocomiopsis dubius Becc. — Portion of the sheathed stem of the flowering plant ; an entire partial inflorescence with young male flowers ; intermediate portion of a leaf. From Ridley's No. 12119 in Herb. Becc. Latin Diagnosis. — Plectocomiopsis dubius Becc. sp nov. Robustus, caudice conicis vaginato obtuse trigono, ultrapollicari ; vaginis crebre aculeis breviter sparsis armatis ; frondibus longiuscule petiolatis, segmentis numerosis, aequidistanti- bus, nervis secundariis pluribus percursis, punctis exiguis numerosis subtus obsitis ; spadice paniculato, amplo, ram is spicigeris numerosis gracilibus ; floribus parvis ovoideis acutis, calyce conspicue striato-venoso. 4. Plectocomiopsis ? paradoxus Becc. in Hook f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 480. * Calamus paradoxus Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xliii (1874); 213, t. XXIX, XXX and For. Fl. Brit. Burma, ii, 521. Descri Leaf-sheath not Scandent ibbous £ nd rather large Sheathed stem 2'5 — 5 cm. in diameter. b dually passing into the petiole, having no ocrea or ligula at the mouth, finely striate, covered with a thin, pale rusty-furfuraceous bly fugacious coating, ar d wi th d series or half circles. 2 — 3 cm. apart, of confluent, pectinate, slend L ab 1-5 m long in th ght. flattened, yellows, deflexed spines pinniferous part (1 mi ed cirrus ; petiole very sh flat ab convex b ing in a powerfully med beneath at the sides and along the middle with straight spines ; rhach flat above in its low rev obsoletely bifaced with a very obt b eath d the salient angle higher up dish which are d its lower part, along the dorsum, with recurved spines, formed ab into stout 2 — 3-nate claws, b th e \ / P. paradoxus. PLECTOCOMIOPSIS. 59 * cirrus half or three without other spines quarter whorled, almost regularly, at the dist of 3—4 em. the lowest and uppermost much reduced in size posed- Leaflets not numerous, about twenty in one specimen ■ di usually in pairs on alternating with thos li d very unequidistant, of the other of the rhachis ; the pairs of one side irregularly d an d with lone ^ vacant spaces posed they are narrowly lanceolate, tapering below to an acute base, gradually acuminate abc botl to a fine often ted tip, th 1 fac bur ked de papyraceous, almost equally green on mid-costa slender, almost equally prominent on botl with very minute pale dots (microlepidia) ; i d accompanied by 4—5 fi d nerves on h sid tertiary nerves numerous both margins runs a nerve about as strong as the mid along visible by smitted g ht all nerves are devoid of b saedly spinulous ; of the intermediate leaflet long, and about 3 cm. d Male spadt'x large and transverse vvinlets istles or spinules ; )8t are 30 — 10 cm. idecompound : tl le b seen by me form rather loose panicles 20 — 40 cm. long, are com unarmed in every part, and carry distichally and alternately, on each side, 5 — 8 gradually decreasing sp kelet-b b eacl of froi the the ond th of its respective spathe, but soon becomes spathes i.e., the spathes of the branches which ched issues erect are id fu d loosely sheathing, striately ed, entirely glab truncate and ciliate at th mou an d pikelet oduced at one branchlets otj a into a triangular acuminat dually decrease point. The d 1 2—20 cm 1 ong, >pt in th e and carrying dist dry specimens are 7—9 kel the lowest bs on eacl d largest i pioid, some of th at times iformb d, all b side ; th 1) very sh in every part, the lowest rhe 10 — 12 mm. long, and shortening towards the end of the b they have two series of closely packed assurgent flowers, each series composed of 5 — 6 flowers, fewer in the uppermost spikelets. • Spathels bracteiform, membranous the floral involucre ; the ). and sharplv 2-keeled concave, acute at one d all but com mb latter is rather deep, at one side, each keel obliquely truncate, flat on the axial d d in an acute tooth. Male fl d narrowing d the base, acute, 4 — 5 mm. long ; the calyx deeply parted into 3 ovate, rather acute lob (th lobes emami on th e axial d acutely keeled) striately-veined, the margins hyaline ; the corolla twice as long as the calyx, divided in its lower d into 3 ments, thinly cartilaginous, striately-veined, apiculate d together in their lowest and with thick margins. Stamens 6 ; the filament part, broadly linear or nearly oblong, thick and fleshy in the free part, w about as long as the segments of the corolla, nearly capitellate a little bel apex, and from that point very suddenly int h is th oflexed, subulate d very d knth ra erect in the pr^efloration, i d about mi acute, narrower than the broadened part of the filament d almost a in these, the anther cells deeply divided Female spadix and fruit unknown. at the b Rudimentary ovary very min Habitat. — Pegu. The male plant only was collected Kurz in the forest of Palawa Zeik (Toukyeghat) in Martaban to the east of Tounghoo, flowering in April (Kur z o. 1475. in the Herbaria of Kew, Pefcrograd and Calcutta). Native name .» Yamatha Khyei ng. M * ■#. \ Ann. Roy. Box. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII \ # • I 60 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. \P. floribundus i Observations. — The habit of this palm is that of a Plectocomia, the leaf-sheaths not being puckered above, gradually passing into the petiole, and not having ocrea or ligula at the mouth. The stem and leaves are very much like the correspond- ing parts of Myrialepis Scortechinii, and the leaves, as in it, have also the lower surface covered with microlepidia. Its generic position, as that of P. floribundus remains uncertain becau-e their female flowers and fruits are unknown, and because in many respects P. paradoxus and P. floribundus more resemble Myrialepis Scorte- chinii than Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus and P. Wrayii. doxus ed all nerves smooth and beinaj dotted th mi d lanceolate leaflets, having underneath, and by the peculiar structure of the male flowers. Tt is certainly a palm with defi 1 fl # Plate 38. — Plectocomiopsis paradoxus .(Kurz) Becc. — Upper part of a flowering male partial inflorescence. From one of the typical at Petrograd. specimens in the Herbarium 5. Plectocomtopsis? floribundus Becc. in Webbia, iii, (1910) 239. Description. — S stamped upon and of mod size. if-sheaths marked by sions stamp€ adherent dark-brown or slender, acicular, light < mm. long; at most. Lt em by the spines during the prsefol the de{ d with an fu scurf, d d (apparently bel armed with obliquely seriate, lfluent by their bases and 10 — 12 to adult plants) 1 m. long (at times even more?) in the pinniferous part; the petiolar part very short, thick ish 2 — 4 cm. long, 1 cm. broad, concave on the upper, convex on the lower surface. armed on the outer mar with straight spines ; on its back th straight, often geminate or teriiate and deflexed ; the rhachis on th spines are of it^ lower portion is convex, and from the middle upper ds has two faces face ated by a not very sharp salient angle ; at times it is spinulous on the sides ■ on the lower surface, lower d di 'Hexed, often geminate spines, which h along the centre, it is armed with a line of straight up are gradually med into first gem th an d fi in the cirrus both petiole and rhach d th regularly half (1 a thin d d mentuin, later partially decid Leaflets about 30 des a few rud at the upper of the rhachis very distinctly approximate in fascicles of 2 — 3 on each sid the fascicles of side b d and for minor on the whole 5 — 6 d almost opposite to those of the other groups d by spaces ; the leaflets are papyraceous; more or less narrowly lanceolate, broadest b the middle, tapering thence to an acute, strongly plicate b d b ad acuminate and finely but on the lower surface are dist pid the mid is dor and on each tip ; are equally green on both surfaces dotted with very minute orbicular pale id secondary nerves ; transverse veinlets sh f it are 5 — 6 very d immersed in the mitted both hyma and visible with d » ■ pale, short, spread conspicuously thickened and frequently armed ooth ; the intermediate flet at times conspicuous spinules, oth (th largest) mos 20—30 cm. long, quite tiirjc * i t i P. jloribundus. less, and 2'5 — 3 cm. wide, though not broader ; the renu and also ihose nearer to the PLECT0C0M10PSIS. I 61 but in non-eirriferous leaves up to 50 — 55 cm. in length from middle of the rhachis ivard be rently large, d (not seen entire d form gradually smaller. Male spadix appa- by me) ; the summit of one (or of a a lanre rather dense panicle, composed of several (ab 12 in all) grad shortening, d branches, distinctly tertiary ?) elongate-infundibulif horizontally truncate at the m gular acuminate point ; branch* arched scorpioid, as are its 1 i visions glab very fi inserted (primary ?) spathes (secondary or veined, almost striately and abriiDtlv extend at one d e into a trian- d inserted inside their respective spathes by means of a d 25 — 30 cm long, ct, flattened th 18—20 t d part : the lower branch (ti. largest) dually diminishing spikelet-bearing bra their spathes are infundibuhform, as are also the (1 or tertiary ones, b small e r sh d strongly furfu widening and glabrous in their upper part, narrow at the base ; the lower branchlets of every b bel ow are 7 8 cm. long, and carry distichally 8 — 10 spikelets on each side ; upper branchlets d shorter and with fewer spikelets ; the spathes of the b form, have a very wide mouth, truncate and ciliate, ai are d produced at one sid into a triangular point ; are strongly striately ed : have the base narro d furfuraceous ; otherwise are oner, or 1 closely bractei h d the brous. Spikel >nd of the b conspicuously scorpioid, 8 — 10 mm. hlets, bearing two series of very from ked assurgent flowers, each series composed of 4—6 flowers ; spathels membranous, concave, keeled, strongly striately veim a broad base and completely emb sub-dimidiately cu acuminate points. Mai oduced Jioive on the rath d veined, acuminate the involucre ; the latter concave, J next to the axis into 2 very broadly ovoid. acute, obsoletely trigonous, 3 mm. long ; the calyx 111 almost to the b into 3, ovate, strongly striately ned, acute lobes : the corolla ab one-half times longer than th calyx, ted to the base into 3 elliptical, boat-shaped pergamentaceous segments, strongly striatfe externally, slightly thickened at the edg and with a callous api fleshy and thickish, ab m m their lower third part, wh the stamens have the lower part of th long as the corolla, linear a me obi d uni ted th they m a kind of cup ; the lower and rela- tively broad and fleshy part of the filaments is very ab d into an oflexed, very slender subulate ad h carries the anther attached about th ? the r than the thickened part) h th stand erect before the anthesis, and are d middle, elongate-sagittate, narrower than the erect basal part of the filament, deeply d at the ather acute at the apex, and ha^ ing the cells opening laterally. , Kudimentary ovary very small, papilliform. O parts unknown. Habitat. — Indo-China. In Cambodia ( Gouraaud) ; native name '* Pfdau-cl i s M specimen with male flowers in the Paris Herbarium. Collected also in Cochin-. China in a sterile condition by Dr. Thorel, but the exact locality not stated. Sterile specimens were also collected between Saigon and Phantiet by Lecomte and Finet in Dec. 1911. x I * 62 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. P. floribundus distinctly Appa closely related to P, iped (wh in P doxu s t h doxus, but with leaflets very mply unequidistant) and th flowers at least Both species have the leaflet third larger, narrower and more acute than in P. paradoxu specimens a long d bv Lecomte red d underneath with pale dots cirrus. and F Anothe: has from an a d of the minated f is not cirriferous, plant te; id the rhachis is armed with 3 — 5-nate, ght, d spmes the lower leaflets are 50 — 55 cm. long, very long-acuminate, have the margins distinctly thickened and ciliate with pale spines, often conspicuous, and in pairs, occasionally 5 — 6 mm. long. m to the genus Plectocomiopsis , but like P. paradoxus I have referred this Pal it shows marked affinities with Myrialepis, and its generic position can be fixed with certainty only when the female flowers and fruit shall be kno w n . Plate 39. — Plectocomiopsis floribundus Becc. — The end of an inflorescence [partial ?) and intermediate portion of a leaf. From Gourgaud's specimen in the P; aris Herbarium. / < / 9 / / V t MYRIALEPIS. 63 MYRIALEPIS Becc Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 480. A large, scandent, dioecious, monocarpic Palm. Inflorescence terminal, composed of several branches, each of which proceeds from the leaf-sheath of a reduced leaf. L of the adult plant cirriferous, having the f-sh bbous above, gradually passing into the petiole, and without ocrea or ligula at their mouths. Leaflet with inHores sheath acuminate, unicostulate with several darv nerves, and d on th der surface ;. the margins slightly thickened ikied Male * large, several times branched ; all the b spathes. \ Male spikelets short, scorpioid, fu ?s provided with tightly id with spathellulas and involucra as in C< Male nd less divided from the male, \ infundibuliform spathes ; their respective spathes. Ft only one cupular involucre Spikelet-b Female branch « diz very ided different th short pikelets very few-flowered ted just at the mouth of ft< are solitary at each spathel, pro c c om by a neutral fl ower ant 1 oid during the anth the calyx deeply lobed ; the corolla d ded with globular- 5-narted : the stamens free membra sagittate. ming with the broadened bases of the fil cup, with 6 radiating globose, 3-locular, cove b a nearly entirely d th aring teeth ; very minute the anthers steril e d » scales the at fi cell s uniovulate ; ovule anatropous, ba connivent, later di F g\ ob stigmas -short and thick, trigonous. having the pericarp f d glob ed with innumerable irregularly set, extremely minute scales. Seed solitary hav a scanty integument and an even fa apical ; embrj basal albumen equable. chalazal fovea punctiform. m Tl genus Myrialepis is especially ized the m ale d bei larger and considerably m branched th th ng fl wore being solitary at each spathel, furnished with only panied by a neuter flower ; otherwise on tl is very much like that of Plectocomiopsis; ie f whole the but above a] female ; by the female one involucre and not accoin- ale flower of Myrialepis fen d 1 >y the f b clothed with extremely minute, not regularly or seriately set, almost tuberculiform scales. (In my monograph of Calamus vol. XL, p. 29 of these A n I have made the pericarp). of Myrialepis in regard to the nature of the scales th als) cover Myrialepis is~ certainly allied under several aspects to Plectocomiopsis, but the female flowers in the two genera are widely different. Moreover in Plectocomiopsis the scales clothing the truit although very numerous, are nevertheless regularly arranged in orthostichies and parastichies, whereas in Myrialepis no order exists and it would be vain to attempt to count them. Only one species of Mi/rialepis is with certainty known. I have,' however, already remarked that Plectocomiopsis paradoxus and P. Jioribundus may possibly be referable" to Myrialepis ; but the male flowers of Myrialepis are not known and of the two other species mentioned the female flowers and fruit are wanting ; such a circumstance renders a rigorous comparison between them impossible. \ f > 64 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. M. scortechinii f Description of Plate II B. Fig. 1 7. Myrialepis Scortech L Becc Fig. 1. Spik in had Fig. 2. One of the fl from the spikelet ab during the anthesis. Fig. 4. fi a fl jt with female flowers Fig. 3. Female flower Fig. 5. Ovary with its sterile section of the o droecium from a flower d rev not yet open. the anthesis — Fig. 6. Longitudinal F 7. Transverse section of the ovary. All fi d Myrialepis Scortechinii Becc in Hook f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 480. • Plectocomiopsis annul at us Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mat. Penins. ii, Plectocomiopsis Scortechinii Ridley 1. c. (Fruit). 213 (The male plant). DESCRIPTION. — A very high scandent palm of the habit of a Plecfocomia Sheathed stem 5—6 cm. in diameter (and at times more), terete even in the young plants. Leaf-sheaths thickly coriaceous, non-gibbous above, gradually passing nto the petiole, strongly striate longitudinally, armed in young plants with complete, oblique whorls of robust, flattened, pale spines, 3 — 4 cm. loug, confluent by their bases ; in the adult plant the spines form short' series of 4 — 5 or also half rings ; along the dorsum the spines are in groups of 3 — 5 with the spino th sides in the centre longer than the others ; no trace of ocrea or ligula at the mouth. Leaves large, terminated by a robust clawed cirrus ; petiole more or less elongate, robust, concave above, convex beneath ; its margins more or less spinulous ; the dorsum is armed, like the first portion of the rhachis, with straight, robust, deflexed spines, single or ternate ; the rhachis in its lower portion is shallowly channelled above, but higher up becomes subterete or obsoleteiy angular, and is armed along the dorsum with robust spines, at first straight, single or digitate with the central spine longer than the others, but finally transformed into half or three quarter whorls of very robust claws. Leaflets numerous, unequidistant, in alternate or —3 on each side of the rhachis, with vacant spaces of variable opposite groups of 2 length interposed between the groups, lanceolate, almost equally narrowing towards both 2—3 en d s * cm. the base acute, the tip acuminate, regular or very obsoleteiy indented papyraceous, green on both surfaces but besprinkled bel o\v the apex mid-costa slender, almost underneath with very minute pale dots (microlepidia) ; the equally prominent on both surfaces and accompanied by 5 — 6 fine secondary nerves on each side of it, often not much more distinct than another nerve interposed between each of them ; along both margins runs a nerve about as strong as . the mid-costa ; transverse veinlets indistinct ; all nerves are without bristles or spinules ; the margins are slightly ciliate-spinulous from above the middle only ; the largest leaflets are 35 — 40 cm. long, 3 — 55 cm. wide. The leaves of the upper part of the plant are gradually smaller ; those immediately below the inflorescence are reduced to the sheath and rhachis only, bearing a few linear leaflets and terminated by a short clawed cirrus. Male inflorescence large and several times branched ; spathes tubular-infundibuliform, soon perishable ; the branches of the third or fourth degree carry several spikelet-bearing gradually decreasing branchlets, of which the lowest are 6 — 7 cm. long and carry distichally 8 — 10 spikelets on each side ; upper bran- chlets shorter with fewer spikelets ; the spathels of the branchlets are infundibular, \ I JA scortechini i MYRIALEPSIS 65 angular, obi truncate at the mouth, d acute or acuminate point. Sp small, luced >id. o* d one side lallv dec d number of tl length of ers, the lower and largest 10 mm. long carry two collateral at one Female de 8 assurgent flowers each ; spathels small involucre cupular, shallow, with 3 acute teeth. escence large, composed of several branches frartia imat fl floi cm. long or shorter, each of which proceeds from the sheath of d carries d T 5—7 or fe kelet-b b the is sinuous i the secondary spat lies are slightly infund ices) 30—40 educed leaf, main axis flat at the b the inner side, on d prod at one side into a ned, almost horizontally truncate at the mouth ed inserted triangular acuminate point ; bra } or 10—16 decreas m long, the mouth of tli an in d b ind : ring 8—10 th of the main axis, b nber small of er i s pikelets >pik fug; respective spathes ; the lowest and largest 5 upper speedily k on each d th spathes of the b similar to d ciliate-furfuraceous on the margin ted just at the mouth of their respective spathes, » of only 3—5 flowers ; the spathellules are bracteiform, concave. nposed d oduced at DUO e into a triangular acuminate point, emb involucre of the flowers, are shall the special and the only existing 2-k ee d on th e axial d cupular. almost explanate, trigonous 3-toothed flower. Bef ovramidate e, th d not showing any trace of the insertion of a neuter female-fl< above, have the ovary about 8 mm. long, ■ l s- points (the rudiments anthesis the female fl of the scales) ded with a broad ring of very minute ead nd later deflexed are calyx veined is deeply lobular-ovoid, 7 — 8 > d ring the mm 6 mm. across ted nearly to the base into 3 b the very acute segments ; the triangular, striately of the fil a hall b divided part of the corolla d ted conspicuous bet a menta sagittat odes form with the broadened connate bases s cup, connate only at the base with the deltoid teeth, each adiat divided into 6 e antl ler > the 3 alternipetal the segments of the corolla ; the anth h e tl the auricles acute ; ovary globose, 3-locular, the small rudimentary scales ; stigmas sh ovules ' basilar. teeth ie apex are d d Fruit monosper very densely and minutely covered with rt. very thickly trigonous, divergent : ha [globular, slightly - depressed, 26—28 mm. in vmg the top round and mark left by the stigmas, the very minute irregularly imb ed by innumerable extremely mi rm scar culiform. scales, about '5 mm. wide straight a coriaceous. high d tips. The d prolonged into very acuminate pericarp on the whole is about 1 mm. thick Seed transversely oblong and d 18 x25 mm. in d nd 15 mm. fie in one specimen, d a thin cnistaceous, adh for integument, otherwise its surface even and i apical chalazal fovea ; albumen homogeneous (once slightly d only by a small eml 'perianth persistent, b callous base. campa the calyx slightly j ry o b Frui d and ng th a ; I Habitat.— The Malay Peninsula and probably also Sumatra. The type speci- men is a small branchlet bearing a few mature fruits, collected by Scortechini in the District of Perak. Scortechini collected also in the same district some sterile Ann. Roy. Bot Gard., Calcutta. Vol. XII • Ofi ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA \L scortechinii. specimens of this P m N name P from a nearly adult plant (No. 513 I have also a sterile specimen colled in Herb B i d by Fr. Kehed at Malacca. S th it h been found by Ridley in Singapore at Bukit Mandai (No. 5680 in He C th fema . and B fl d f s 5860 m Ridl I. c?) Becc). nd in the garden jungle (I? The male plant is represen 12500 with female flowers in Herb d by Ridl N 11457 (in H also from S by Hi m K i at Bui Sumatra Timah. S sterile specimens of a Pal Becc.) Llected at P (No. 20 H Boa-or.) and in L (No. 120 H Bogor.) apparently are referable to Myrialepis Scortechi Observat sembles a PI — It is a very distinct P \v hich especially when young, re- f which however it is easily distinguishable, even in a sterile d by its l.-aflets being distinctly sprinkled on the lower surface with pale microlepidia, which are invariably wanting in the Plectocomias. The male in- florescence differs considerably from the female one. I have described it f the same specimens w comiopsis annulatus ; of a Ridle hich were considered by Ridley (No. 11457) as belonging to PI fl in these specimens is withered, being apparently very perishable nature, and not one flower was left. has referred his No. 12500, which bears female To the P. annulatus flowers in no way distin guisliable f those of his No. 5680 (or ) which he really sid as representing my My Si which it certainly does. Th specimens from S which I doubtf refer to My ch represented by several portions of a very large leaf th alepis Scorte- leaf-sheath is cm. in diameter d h the same kind of spinescence as the typical specimens but it is spinous also on the rim of its mouth ; the petiole is very stout ; the Leaflets are as exactly described than the upper and are very b re i but have the under surface slightly paler mm and * closely kled with verv minute* slightly prominent dots ; in th *> typical cimens the ' dots or microlepidia are appres sed These specimens, if not exactly identical with the Malayan plant, probably represent an Plat 40. 3d species. / Myrialepis S Becc. A b of the male infl having lost all its tl intermediate portion of a af from Ridley's No. 11457 in He Becc. Portion of a sh stem from a young plant ; from S No. 51 3 b in Herb. Becc. Plate 41. — Myrialepis Scortechinii Becc. V entire partial infloresce th E flowers in bud a kelet-beariusr b witt l femal e the anthesis (in the upper part of the plate) ; portion of a leaf flowers S riner d mature f b one rium. cut to show the seed in situ ; from Ridley 5680 in the Calcutta Small partial inflorescence with nearly mature fruit (Scortech type specimen) and a leaf-sheath of an adult plant, also from S Herb Becc. i * % ZALACCA. 67 ZALACCA Reinw. Reinw. in lit. ad Mart, ex Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, iii, 199, t. 118, 119, 123 136 and 159. f. 2; Rumph. Herb. Amb. v. 113; Blume in Schult. Syst. Vegot. vii, 1333, Obs. 3 ; Blume, Rumphia, ii, 158 ; Kndl. Gen. No. 1737 ; Meian. Gen. 354 (265) ; Wall. PI. Asiat. Bar. iii, t. 222—224 ; Grin, in Gale. Journal Nat. Hist, v, 8, and Palms Brit. Ind. 9, t. clxxv — clxxx ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 80 ; Becc. Malesia, iii, 63 ; Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma ii, 511 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brir. Ind. vi, 472 ; Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Renins, ii, 168 ; Salacea Reinw. in Syll. Plant, ii. 3. Caespitose, almost stemless, spinous, dioecious palms, having large, pinnate, non-flagelliferous leaves. Leaflets lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, tricostulate, almost always sigmoid or at least falcately acuminate. Spadices interfoliaceous, very dissimilar in the two sexes, enveloped in several incomplete membranous, mostly lacerated and perishable spathes. Male spadices branched, bearing several catkinlike, cylindrical spikes, composed of very approximate bracts (spathels) more or less connate their margins. Male flowers two and equal at the axilla of every spathel, ovate, clavate or oblong, accompanied by special bracteoles usually hairy or woolly ; the • calyx thinly membranous or hyaline, deeply 3-parted ; the corolla longer than the calyx, having a fleshy undivided base, and parted into 3 thinly cartilaginous lobes ; stamens 6, inserted at the throat of the corolla ; filaments short, subulate ; anthers erect, basifixed ; rudimentary ovary extremely minute, placed at the base of the tubular part of the corolla. Female spadix less branched than the male and with fewer spikes. Female spikes larger than the male ones, torulose or squarrose {Euzalacca and Eleiodoxa), or small and composed of very few flowers {Leiozalacca) ; the spathels at first connate by their margins, then separating, larger and less crowded than in the male spikes, each carrying a female flower accompanied by a neuter one in the species of the Euzalacca and Eleiodoxa section), the female having two bracts. and the neuter only one ; the neuter flower is wanting in the species of the Leiozalacca section. Female flowers larger than the male ones, ovoid ; the calyx membranous, split into 3 parts ; the corolla coriaceous, about as long as or slightly longer than the calyx, having a ventricose or urceolatfi entire base, and divided above into 3 valvate segments ; staminodes 6, inserted at the throat of the corolla ; ovary distinctly 3-celled, ovoid, strigose from being covered with scales prolonged into ascending or spreading spiculae {Euzalacca), or less frequently flat and appressed {Leiozalacca and Eleiodoxa). Fruit relatively large, mono-trispermous, globose, turbinate or ovoid covered with reversed scales terminating in a rigid spiculiform upturned point {Euzalacca) or smooth and appressed {Leiozalacca and Eleiodoxa). Seed oblong, globular or obsoletely angular, enveloped by a fleshy, often abundant and very acid, integument of which an intrusion penetrates into the albumen from an apical pit ; the surface of the nucleus smooth ; albumen homogeneous ; embryo basal. The genus is sharply divisible into 3 sections or subgenera. The more numerous and more characteristic representatives of the genus (the Euzalacca) are sharply separated from the others by the strigose ovary and the corresponding hispid subspinous fruit ; moreover in the species of this group the female flowers are accompanied by a neuter one and are crowded into cylindrical spikes. Tn the second group the female 4nn. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII \ ! • 68 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Zal acca spadix carries very reduced spikes, by a neuter one, and the fruit is third group (Eleiodoxa) has the fen cylindrical spikes, each fl iwer bein ered flowe rs ry few female flower h flat, appressed, sm crowded together, as d 1 scales. Euzalaa Th accompanied by another fl or male ; th fruit is monospermous and clothed with smooth scales, and has the seed of a special mat <; DISTRIBUTION. — Z< Indo-Malayan genera of P in the very rich soil of th< 9 is one of the most characteristic exclusively Tl 13 species at present known fl recesses of the primeval fo or in very d chiefly situa- tions. Z. secunda is the most northerly species being ind to Upper A nd the Mishmee Mountains ; it stand nd has no close affinities with the other continental species Z. Wail Siainu Cochin-China and the h found more to the south in Pe T Z. Wall Z. glab Ma I a van w species * ich likewise grows in the Malay P viz. Z. Blumeana* Z. edulis. Z. \ b rma, Tenasserim, ) related not only also the insular Z. sumatrana d Z. Clemensiana of the PI being ferous fruits. Z. affini in the Bornean Z. dub from of th Z. con ft and Z. S cor tech ma h ms growing in the Malay Pe ed by having hispid spiculi- group, has its representative ii {Eleiodoxa) are gregarious Borneo, R a n d B they are apparently not common plants. The native country of Z. dubia but not k own. It is found only in cultivation at Buitenzorg, but most certainly is a native of one of the Malay Islands. The precise place of origin it being a of the Malayan Z. edidis is also as vet uncertain, f/ 7 plant that frequently receives a kind of rudimentary culture, on account of its edible acid fruits. t i 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Zalacca Z. edulis Iieinw. • • M 11 var. amboinensis Becc var. riovvensis Becc. Z. verinicularis Becc, ... Z. Bin nit? an a Mart. - - • •• var. Rimbo Becc Z. sumatrana Becc. Z. Clemen siana Becc. ... Z. Wallichiana Mart. ... Z. glabrescens Griff. Z. secunda Griff. Z aftims Griff. Z. dubia Becc. Z borneensis Becc. Z. conferta Griff. Z. Heortechinii Becc ' • • • • • 5 ii • - » • • • + » • • --2 6 5* 4 a .^ a a & • >» • M 1 o Q bS s s « • • * + • • • + • • + + + - • * + + • • • 3 a n # • • * • • • • • • * • • • ■ + + • • + + is > - 03 25 s a o < 8 — f ■ ■ + . . • • • « • • • • • • • • » + • • + • • • • • • • • • « • • + • • + + / 4 Zalacca. ZALACCA. 69 ZALACCA. K k \ TO THE SPECIES. (On it would account of the great, diss between the male and been d offered by the to have one k ted d ma pad d especially by the fruits ; but to mak th d ose of key h owing to the circumstance that in several species one or the other of the female spadix, j to the characters female spadix, and proved unfeasible unk necessary A — Euzalacca h scales. thel one Fema wh ich Ovary strig or beset spik larg th sharply pointed, erect, than the male ones, having tico or neuter. Fruit clothed with (or apparently hermaphrodite) and the other almost 'ft each a male 'i m or b sea i * Leaflets more or less spinulous above Fruit d h d having the midcosta only d with scales having a spinuliforni ed tip. f Male spikes h the spat lies connate into circular rings. Leaflets unequidistant. * a. Male ^pikes elongate, flexuose, at first vermiform, and with appressed spathels later subsquarrose or with slightly longer than the spathels ; the divisions of the corolla spreading gaping spathels. Male flowers during the anthesis. Leaflets narrowly lanceolate, or trailing. Male spadix nodding 1 m edulis Reinw. (forma typica) Malay Archipelago. Leaflets linear. edulis V AR . amhoinensis Kecc. — Amboina. Leaflets narrowly lanceolate. Mai e s shorter branches tin padix with in in forma typica. edulis var. Howensis Becc Rio w. b Male panicles erect form serted om like the spathes ; the male spikes vermiform, entirely d pathel th the wool of the special flower-b short, ring 3r than tin nd giving a toment flowers with the division of th anthesis. 3 the spikes. d open duri Male ' the 2m Z, vermicularis Becc. Born eo. \ I 70 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Za la cca . c. Male panicles erect ; spikes digit shorter or slightly longer than path flowers clavate, so numerou as to conceal the spathels and h d of the corolla erect (not spread d 3. thesis. Seed obtusely trigonous. Blumeana Mart. — Java. Fruit more or les- turbinate. Z. Blumeana Mart, (type) Java. ♦ Fruit globular, very slightly narrowing to the base Blumeana var. Rimno Becc. Sumatra. §§ Leaflets equidistant. Fruit turbinate, tapering to a narrow rather elongate base. Seeds irregular, obtusely angular, and somewhat flattened. 4. sumatrana Becc. — Sumatra. f f Male spikes having the spathels individually distinct, z'.e., not connate and not forming annular rings. Leaflets in groups 5, Gtcmensiana Becc Mindanao. • • Leaflets green on both surfaces i t Fruit clothed with appressed rhomboidal scales, having a spinuliform up- turned tip. § Leaflets oblanceolate, narrowing to a straight base (not or very slightly sigmoid) ; the costae smooth or the mid-costa only spinulose near the apex. Male spikes tomentose. Fruit having a conically mam mi twice as Ions as broad. illate apex Seed about 6. Wallichiana Mart.— Burma, Tenasserim. Mergui Archip., Siam, Indo-China, Penang. Malay Peninsula. § § Leaflets having a distinctly sigmoid base, and smooth costae. glabrous. Fruit very suddenly contracted into a long beak. Mai e 7. spikes Zm glahrescens Griff. — Malay Peninsula, Penang. f t Fruit clothed with spreading lanceolate thick subulate scales * Zalacca. ZALACCA. i 1 Leaflets straight, lanceolate, having 3 costas spinnlous above. irregularly globular. Seed t S m Zm secuntla Griff.— Upper Assam and Mishmee M te . B. Subgenus Leiozalacca. Ovary and fruit cloth J frith oppressed scales not produced into a rasping point. Male spadix as in Euzalacca. Female spadix having jew* female floirrrs in groups on short branchlets. solitary in the axillas of secondary spathels and not accompanied neuter fotrers. Fruit ovoid or obovoid, scales in 24 — l'6 vertical series. Male spadix having elongate branches, bearing short, tomentost*, sessile spikes in the axillas of much longer spathes. \ 9 affinis pad upper circular chalazal ft not k Leaflets straight. 12. . conferta Griff.— Malay P sula. Borneo, Bangka. v en in ^ Leaflets sigmoid. 13. . Scortechinii Becc— Malay Peninsula. Description of Plate ILL Figs. 1 — 5. Zalacca (Leiozalacca) affinis Griff. Fig. 1. Young female spikelet 1 ending in a rudimentary flower, and with the fertile flowers just appearing outside their spathels. — Fig. 2. Isolated young female flower furnished with its bracts or spathellule8. — Fig. 3. Female flowers during the anthesis enveloped by their spathels ■. 72 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA Zal acca and spathellules. Fig. Ovary. 4. Detached female flower du rim All figures enlarge 1 5 diameters th e anth esis. F ig. o. spafrhellule ; rf=calyx ; e=corolla). spathel ; 6=outer spathellule ; c inner F 6—15. two young male fl Zalacca (Euzalacca) meana the anrhesis. — Fig. 8. Ve accompanied by their b Mart — Fig. Sr Fig. 7. Male fl hield dur section of a male fl ed its neuter fl Fig. 9. Female flower corolla of a femal staminodcs. — Fig. 11. Female fl its calyx.— Fig. 13. Ovary.— I flower open and showing its 1 relative bracteoles. — Fig. 10. P >rtion of th de, and the insertion of th r entire. — Fig. 12. F flower divested of Neuter fl I ) i agr; All fi of a spathel embracing the femal d its b F 15. d neuter flower with •ged b ♦ Fig. 16. Zalacca (Euzalacca) vermicularis ovary (enlarged ). Bece. — Longitudinal section of an Fig. 17. (enlarged). Zalacca (Euzalacca) secunda Griff.— Longitudinal section of an o va ry Figs. 18—21. Zal acca (Eleiodoxa) conforta during the anthesis.— Fig. 19. Female flower Griff>— Fig. 18. Female flower Fi^. 21. Portion of the neuter flower cut cut open.— Fig. 20. Neuter flo wer. open. (All figures enlarged 7 diameters.) ' Excluded Species. » ZalacCa Brccarii Hook f. fl. Brit. Ind. VI 474. Species established on the young fruits oi a Zalacca (probably of Z. Wallichiana) and the leaves of Gala longisetus (1 have seen the typical specimen in the Herbarium at Kew). tnus Zalacca? assamica Lod. 1. = Plectocomia assamica Grih. ex Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii 81. Zalacca nitida.— Cat. W. Bull. 1886, 9; from West Africa, of li aphia. \ probably a species i Za i.acca Wagneri Hort. Versh. nomen — Quid ? ex H. Wendl. in Kerch. Les Palm. 258, 1 Descriptions of Species. Zalacca edulis Reinw. Malacca) in Sylloge Plant. Soc. Ratisb. ii, (1828), 3 ex Blume {Zalacca) in Roem. et. Sch. Syst. Veget. Kurz in Natuurk. Ind. Bat. iii, 81. vn, p 2—1334 Tijdschr. Ned. Indie, xxvi, (1864) 217 ; Miq. Fl. Fmctus sqiiamosus piriformis Clus. Exot. Lib. ii, c. 4, p. 25- 26 cum icone B us a in u s Ho t any i forma asper. Linn. Sp. 463. C. B H cum icone. 1 i / Z. eduh's. ZALACCA. 73 D C almost stemle:--. L interruptedly pinnate ; rhachis armed along the dorsum with a line of large Battened spines. d spinous also at the sides in its has part. several one ft the other i Leaflets bif all in one plane, oft of h but at times leaving long vacant spaces posed, narrowly lanceolate, slightly sigmoid or fal terminating in a filamentose tip, green, almost glossy Male spaitices (or their primary divisions ?) 40 — 55 cm. long, fo jately acuminate, above, and ashy gray beneath. lax, nod trailing?) subsecund composed of few der, alternate, super- d branches, 10 — 20 cm. long, each supporting a single spike. The primary spathes are acumi of a soft structure, thinly rust y-tomentose, split- ting longitudinally and finally decomposed into long fibres; the spike-bearing b are tomentose, each furnished with two special spathes, one other just at the base of the spikes. The spikes are flexu ced i niil way • the 10 — 12 mm. in diameter, entirely 12 — 15 cm. long, fu outside, d at fi together so as to form very regularly the rim slightly ted obt ted from the spathes. The spathels are when the flowers are very young, united uperposed, approximate rings, having only but dist points d insertion \\ in this stage the spikes are to every in d almost smooth, but when the flowers appear, the spikes assume a squarrose and toothed appearance owing to the rings b slightly gaping and more or less split into parts as theoretically there ought to be spathel as many t ed by a Triangular point. T A just befor 4 mm. 1 mm. d and slightly d ab long as the undivided part of the corolla and is 3 linear, hyaline segments ; the corolla is gular acute segments, spreading during ted belo w •ing the the stamens are all equal, have the fil th id each part being te opening, are narrow, 6 the spathels ; the calyx is as >arted nearly to the base into its upper third into 3 trian- s, and is fleshy and tapering sub d spreading d the anthesis, and the anthers lanceolate-sagittate ; the rudimen ovary is ex- em floral b The fe minute and placed only a little above the base of the corolla ; the special are very narrow, shorter than the 11 bly very much I slightly hairy -paleaceous. k that of Z. Blu • Habitat. — Native of the Malay Islands, but the precise place of origin not known. Frequently cultivated. \ i i o genus the b Reinwardt Zt a cca. k gned the name of eduh's to that species of the to the ancient authors (CI Rumphius. and Ga in f that all those writers had in mind the same species, the spinuliferous fruits ; but this kind of f occurs in several d allied species, dispersed throughout ,the various Malay islands. ed although happened therefore that u nd ei dt a me of Z. eduli d that of Zalaccd of R more than one species was included Ti who d fruits fruits a notice of a Zalacca and figures, under the is d in th ■ks of CI c of Fruct that m h squamosus « time had reached Europe from Bali, ed in b . 1605) certain These f they could be now Bali ought to be obtained idered representing the typical F. eduh's, and if d by spad d leaves, the question as i Ann. Roy. Bot. Gaed.. Calcutta, Vol. XII. t 74 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Z. edulis. to the identification of that species could be settled at once ; otherwise it is hopeless to rely for its sure identification on the description and figure given by Clu Fru us. Rumph was th fi ttf ad the Malay name of Zt for the same if or mis of and he also gives description and a bad representation of that plant, stating that it grows not only in Bali, but also in th e Zi iM-u part of Java ; adding ds of Kan la and Ambo zca as a complex species, old times it was thence introduced into the I d - Rumph's eludes also the Javan Z. Blumeana. It is however more by conjecture than by the evid of facts that I assume to belong: to the true Z. edulis 1 1 1 ■ plant d Buitenzorff. described me above, which was introduced from Amboina, and produces m spadices widely diffe tho- < j of Z. Bl but h from the affinity it presents with the from dlied species, certainly must prod vyrifornris of Glusis. f very much lice those of the Fructus sqaamosu ^ Z. edulis, as conceived of by me, is especially characterized by the male spadices quite different front those of Z. Blumeana Mart., and resembling those of Z. vermicularis Becc. In Z. edulis the male spikes are long and flexuose, entirely exser ted f the spathes ; the fl and that not visible de bract duri are lied h very little wool anthesis are slightly gaping and h very broad but d triangular points, which on the whole give a squarrose or toothed appearance to the spike s ? sm beyond the segments, i thels, and hav the the % flowers are i divided in its upper slightly protruding •d into 3 triangular ad open during the anthesis. Plate 42. — Zalacca edulis Reinw. — Portion of a leaf near the end. Male spadix bearing, specially in their upper part, young spikes with the flowers still hidden within the spathels ; branch of the male spadix with spikes during the anthesis. From a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (V. G. 21 a). 4 la. Zalacca edulis var. amboinensis Becc Zalacca (Rottang Zalack), Rumph. Herb. Amb. v, 113, t. 57, f. 2. Description. — A note of the collector B. Robinson) says that " the plant has leaves over 4 m., w wanting or else represented by spines th 35 pairs of leaflets or mor often irregular, either F yellow brown." In my specimen the in a portion of rhachis 30 cm. long, are equidistant, 60 cm. long, 3'5 cm. broad, linear, very slightly d at the base, and fly falcate at apex, ashy or rusty-grey b A ft fi Z. Blumeana, the female fi but judging from the remn ike the is very imilar to th ose have very thick, obi obtuse, found upon those ke stiermas. The f> globose and narrows ab at the base ; the scales have as usual an of kes. 't is •ved spinulous tip, but are broadly grooved on the posticous part, and only slightly d at the apices The ds have a very abund fl integument, h even in the herbarium specimens remains acid, and has the flavour and consistence of dried plums ; when divested of the integument the nucleus shows a dark brown \ i Z. vermicular i*. ZALACCA 75 and even surface, is very irregularly and obtusely subtrigonous. or at times almost globular. 15 — 16 mm. in diameter, and has an apical pit and a large basal embrvo. Habitat. — Amboina. The specimens of this distinct variety (or perhaps species) were collected on the 23rd August 191 3 at Kusy-Kusy Sereh by the late C. B. Robinson, and one of them was forwarded to me by Mr. Merrill of the Manila Herbarium. Observations. — The specimen upon which this variety is established differs from those of the plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (considered as representing the type of Z. edulis) in its leaves, which are much narrower and more regularly set on the rhachis. Of this Amboinese Zalacca the male spadices are unknown, and of the supposed type the fruits are wanting ; so it is possible that when the two shall be better known, they may be found not to be specifically identical. The plant collected Zalacca. Robinson can be only be considered as partially representing Ramph'a Plate 43. — Zalacca edulis var. amboinensis Becc. — Portion of the petiole and of the intermediate part of a leaf ; spadix bearing young fruits ; mature fruits and seed. The entire specimen in Herb. Beccari. lb. ALACCA EDULIS var. RIO WENS IS BecC. Description. — It differs from the plant considered ^s c the type by the male spadices being much shorter, only about 25 cm. Ion cr having the branchlets sup- porting the spikes also shorter ; but otherwise it is in every respect, even in its leaves with their unequidistant leaflets, white underneath, not distinguishable from the type. The petiole is very powerfully spinous. Habitat. — It was cultivated in the Botanic Garden at Buitenzorg and said to my specimens of it in the year 1878. have been introduced from Riow ; I gathered Pi 44. — Zalacca edulis var. riowensis Becc. — Lower portion of a leaf petiole ; fragment of a om above the ddl Male spadix.' Sp d in Herb. Beccari f he plant cultivated at Buitenzorg mentioned abov 3. Zalacca vermicularis Becc. Malesia, iii, 66 * Description. — Leaves very large. Leaflets (alternately equidistant ?), coriacious, green and glossy above, dull whitish or ashy grey beneath ; the intermediate very broadly linear, slightly sigmoid at the base, asymmetrically acuminate and slightly falcate at the apex, up to 90 cm. long, and 7 — 8 cm. broad, strongly tricostulate ; the transverse veinlets sharp and very approximate. Male spadices (or perhaps only their primary branches) arising erect from the axillas of the leaves, about 35 cm. long, forming a rather loose cupressiform panicle, composed (in 2 specimens) of only 7 alternate branches, each arising from ' a broad, acuminate, embracing spathe, and bearing only one spike. The general spathes are concave, elongate, acuminate, and ass-ear like, thinly membranous, easily splitting longitudinally, \ Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. ■ft > 76 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Z. vermicular is hinly rusty furf the lowest 12 — 15 cm- long. The branches are about as long as their respective spathes, which have a narrow tub lower part, and r th er bruptly at one side into a of their respective nd into a broadly and loosely infundibuliform limb, produced •iangular acute point ; the branches are inserted at the bottom the about as long as th 7 cm.) fo a ped to th s k a nd are by 2 other minor spathes. The spikes are entirely exserted from the spathes, vermiform, erect, slightly fl 8—12 cm. long * 10 — -11 mm. broad, and narrow a little above to a rather acute point; the b of th k or spathels are ted together and form very rings, having the rim truncate, but showing an obt regular superposed point, to which converge several distinct nerves in .1 with every insertion of fl The special flower-b are linear and bear at their apices d tufts of rusty- woolly hairs Lin visible outside the em Male covering the flowers before the anthesis, which afterwards rim of the spathels, and give to the entire spikes a tomentose appearance flowers small, about 5 mm. long ; the calyx at first entire, later split into 3 hyaline striate segments ; the corolla slightly longer than the calyx, three-parted nearly to the middle, tapering and fleshy below with the segments ovate, rather acute, and spreading during the anthesis ; stamens subseriate, 3 of them being longer than the o the rs filaments subulate, recurved during the anthesis ; anthers almost orbicular or a trifle longer than broad Female spadix shorter than the male, formed by a very few, closely packed, short branches, each bearing 1 — 2 almost sessile spikes, and altogether forming a large, dense and almost sessile mass, enveloped by several spathes broadly lanceolate, long-acuminate and rusty-pulverulent outside, of: which the lower and larger are 35 — 40 cm. long, all speedily split into long criniform fibres. The flowering spikes are thick and shortish, 8 — 10 cm. long, and 2"5 / cm. broad, torulose, apiculate ; the spathels are relatively large, at first connate and truncate, later split, thinly rusty-furfuraceous outside, each shielding a lemale flower accompanied by a neuter one. Special floral bracteoles rigid-subcoriaceous ; the internal one broadly triangular, the two external narrow, densely covered on their keeled backs with rusty-paleaceous hairs. Female flowers relatively large, o void- obi ong, 12 mm. long 6-5 7 mm. broad, slightly curved ; the calyx more or less deeply 3-lobed at first, then split into 3 very thin membranous, soon decaying, oblong, acute segments, about as long as the corolla. The corolla coriaceous, striately veined outside, trigonous-pyramidate in its upper part, and divided to about the middle into 3 triangular acute teeth, ventricose in its lower undivided part ; the staminodes are rigid, subbiseriate, and have small rudimentary anthers ; ovary ovoid, narrowing to a thick and relatively rather elongate style ; stigmas thick, tongue- like, blunt, relatively large. Neuter flowers as long as the female ones, curved, of a general clavate 1 form, tapering quickly to at a very narrow acute base from an acutely trigonous-pyramidate upper part. Fruit (seen only at a very youn with black shining spiculae- striately d egmen ded and cucullate at apex ; the than the calyx is divided from cartilaginous segments, d at apex, d fi above the middle into 3. oblong, y striate externally ; the lower ded part of the corolla is fleshy ; the segments are slightly divaricate during the in thesis but not h spread out ; the aniens are uniform, ted the throat of the corolla, have the rigid, erect, subulate filaments thick at their base, where connate with the tubular part of the corolla ; anthers erect, basiiixed, oblong, obtuse, their cells briefly disjointed at the base ; rudiment of the ovary obsolete or extremely minute, placed just at the bottom of the corolla. The female spadtx is shorter than the male, and formed by a few very closely packed short branches, each bearing 1 — 2 almost sessile spikes, and the whole forming a large and dense, almost sessile mass, enveloped in several spathes. In the specimens seen by me the primary branches carry only one spike, shortly pedicelled, enveloped in spathes longer than « their respective spikes, similar to those of the male spadix and soon breaking up into long criniform fibres. The flowering spikes are torulose, 8 — 10 cm. long, and 2 — 25 cm. in diameter ; the spathels are, at first, connate by their margins but soon separate and assume a broadly trapezoidal shape with a short triangular point in the middle of the upper margin ; are concave, papyraceous, brown, strongly striately veined, finely rusty-tomentose, and finally marcescent and split up into fibres ; at every insertion point is a female flower accompanied by a neuter one. The female flower is provided with two special bracts, one of which is placed between it and the neuter, anc I flowe is large triangular, acuminate, membranous, and embraces the base of its r ; the other or external bract is narrow, and slightly hairy-paleaceous on its keeled dorsum. The neuter flower is 10 mm. long, very slender, more or less angular, and diminishing considerably below to a narrow base ; it is also provided with a bract similar to the external one of the female flower ; the calyx is formed by 3 lanceolate, hyaline, keeled sepals united by their bases ; the corolla is coriaceous and with its triangular acuminate connivent segments assumes a trigonous- pyramidate form ; its base is solid, elongate and narrow ; the stamens are reduced to rigid slender filaments, ending in rudimentary subulate anthers. Female flowers are relatively large, almost regularly ovoid, have a broad round base, and a conical acuminate point, are 12 mm. long, and 7 — 8 mm. broad ; the calyx is, at first, more or less deeply 3-parted ; later it splits down to the base into 3 very thinly from a broad base and membranous, speedily decaying segments, triangular acuminate, appressed to the corolla, an 1 shorter than it ; the corolla is coriaceous striately veined outside, trigonous-pyramidate above, divided to about the middle or segments, and globular-ventricose in its lower into 3 elongate triangular teeth undivided part ; staminodes 6, slender, rigid, bearing narrowly lanceolate acuminate rudimentary anthers ; 3 of them stand erect in the sinuses between the teeth of the corolla, and 3 are opposite the teeth and are inserted at a lower level ; ovary ovoid, narrowing above to a short and thick style, and covered densely with dark ascendent spicule ; stigmas trigonous, elongate, spreading. Fruit turbinate or broadly a globular obsoletely trigonous upper part, speedily tapering below pyr ifor having to an acute base ; it is about 4 cm. long and 3"5 cm. broad ; scales glossy, of a dark chestnut brown colour, squarrose, slightly convex and faintly keeled along the centre, and arranged in very numerous longitudinal series, their apices produced 4 * \ * Z. blumeinia. ZALACCA. 79 into very fine Upcurved lirittle points. 4 5 nun. long ; the remnants of the stvl« form, on the round top of the fruit, a small nmcro ahout 3 mm, long, surrounded and entirely hidden the erect spinules of the up) rmusi scales. Seeds 3; when divested of their fleshy integument roundish subtrigonous, 2 cm. long, 15 — 18 mm. 12 mm. thick, rounded above, narrowing towards the base, convex on the broad, 10 back and having two flat facets inclined at a wide angle on the inner side and an apical pit, corresponding to a narrow intrusion of the integument, about 8 mm. deep ; the embryo is basal, exactly in opposition to the apical pit. and about as long as the intrusion of the integument. ^ Habitat. — -The specimens f which the ab d has been d up. are derived from plants cultivated in the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg (V. Y. 8 the fruit ; V. Y. 8a the male spadix), but apparently d into the Garden from its 3 occasionally 1, where this species seems to be either spontaneous or ed Observations. — ft is characterized with certainty by the male spadices short. 1 9 cupressiform, having few approximate secondary branches, each bearing only finger-like thickish spikes, shorter or else slightly longer than their respective large fusiform spathes ; by the same spikes having the flowers very closely packed, together, completely hiding the spathels, and by the segments eating during the anthesis, and not completely spread out ; by the leaves having the leaflets' ashy grey beneath, interruptedly pinnate, but with the leaflets in each group regularly bifarious and not pointing in different ways. It seems also to differ of the corolla slightly divari- from the allied species the fruit, which is not much prolonged at the base, and has subtrigonous seeds, convex on the dorsum. I The fruits of Z. Blumeana represented in Martins 'a plates 123 and 159 III T I show the scales not prolonged into subspinous upcurved points, doubtless because r being very brittle, they had been rubbed off before the artist saw them. Calamus Zalacca Gaertn. is, I think, referable to Z. Blumeana Mart., and 13 not the plant of Clusius (Z. edulis Reinw.), especially on account of the relatively scanty, although fleshy, but later dry integument, with which the seeds of Z. Blumeana are covered (demum exarescens — Gaertner) ; whereas in Z. edulis the integument is copious and never becomes absolutely dry. Plate 46. — Zalacca Blumeana Mart. — Male spadix. Portion of a leaf near the end. Spike with mature fruits. One fruit open showing 2 seech s in situ, one having been taken out ; one seed, dorsal aspect. From plants cultivated at Buiten- zorg (V. Y. 8 d, and V. Y. 8). Specimens in Herb. Beccari. Zalacca Blumeana var. Rimbo Becc. var. no\? It d i from the type only in the fruit b almost slightly attenuate at the base. The fruit contains 1 to 3 d ir and only very which of course vary in shape according to their number, are globular „ when solitary, convex on the back with flat ventral surfaces when d flat inner facets when 3 m b oth as in type. t V ** / 80 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Ul Bo Habitat.— *Jt has been quite recently (1915) Prow of Palembang, in nic Garden at Buitenzon? ted by M S Sumat It was li ver Z. sumat r ana. shoff at Mulah ivated in the (V. G. 14), but its place of origin was unknown. Plate 47. Zalacca Blumeana var. Rirabo Becc— Female spadix anthesis"; detached female spike; spike with mature fruits during a leaf. j the intermediate portion of From a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (V. G. 14) in Herb. Beccari. 4. Zalacca sumatbana Becc. n. sp % * Z. W allichian a (non Mart.) Miq. Prodr. Fl. Sum. 255 5 5 ,592. Description. — Stemles with very unequal spines, some sh as usual. Leaves very large. P b a great m very densely armed large and very rob ted. Rl d, schistaceous, frequently approximate by their bases and oblique- its lowest part, with a line of stout, trigonous, armed only along the dorsum, especially in large d oad at their bases, frequently accompanied spines • 3 5 cm. all equidistant and regularly b smaller ones. long, Leafle 5 — 10 mm. numerous. in lanceolate, slightly d at the base, having- a fal one plane (in one specimen) narrowly d parallel margins in their intermediate part, ashy grey beneath, all very conspi in their basal parts, more slender, but yet present also acuminate tip, d green and glossy above, dull and d is spinulous only near th in their upper part ; the 3-eostulate, the costa? being very robust towards the apex ; the apex ; the margins are appressedly spinulous 6 th i 'o em. de intermediate and largest leaflets are 70 those towards the uppermost are partially d are gradually shorter b 75 cm. long d ted and less acuminate than tl not narrower ; le othf ers. Male spadix Female spadix apparently dense and short, very similar to that of Z. Blumeana one spike is about 12 cm. long (not taking into account the fruits F\ b diameter, which dark chestnut b d 6 — 7 cm. long, ha it carries). a globular head 4 — 4*5 era in tapers to a long very narrow base d 45 ged in scales glossy, of a n timer d series, very fine upcurved b on one fruit), keeled along the centre, the apices produced into points, 4 — 6 mm. long Tl on the round top of the fruit a small terete ie remains of the style for muc 4 usually 3, have an the pericarp ; when d trigonous, bro« mm bund com d ab fleshy acid integument of the integument they are long. d more or less bel The seeds, filling the cavity of ilarly and obsoletely 2 2*5 em. long. 15 apical pit 19 mm. broad, with a dull dark b d often somewhat surfac even and to a narrow intrusion of th eml >ryo is b triangular acuminate, also about 8 mm integument 8 mm. deep ted, an the opposition to the apical pit. long, set exactly in Habitat. mens gathered Th descriptic me in A of this pposed new species is derived fr above the level of the' sea) in the P 1878 in S. W. Sui ov. of Pad speci- at Ayer Mantjor (360 m. p. 64) I had referred the In .. M 77 he locality of K pecimens to Z. edulis R (vol. Ill tanam, which inde is not far d d erroneously given from Alyer Mantjor. / * \ Z. clemcnsiana. ZALACCA. 81 Probably to thi s u supposed n species is referable a specimen collected by Teijsnmnn at Priaman, also in the Province of Pad an g (No. 2029 in Buifenzorg Herbarium and labelled Z. Wallichiaiia Mart. ; which certainly is the species so named by Miquel 1. c. R e i n w RVATiONs. — It is one of the for which are to be d with Z. ed b T remain somewhat uncertain ab its value, its male spadix not being knuwn. because in the group to which it bel & the diffe very much like each other as to the fruit, whereas the male spad species are )& and the male flowers afford good d characters. Z. sumatrana is apparently distinguishable from Z. Blumeana and Z. edulis by the leaves having regularly leaflets ; by the rhachis being spinous • alternately arranged and equidistant large elongate only along the dorsum ; but principally by the fruit having a long and narrow tapering base ; also by the obsoletely and irregularly angular seeds, broad and somewhat flattened, rounded above, and atten- uate below ; and bv the scale distinctly keeled along the centre. \ Pl 48. — Zalacca sumatrana B Intermediate portion of a leaf one ke with some of its not quite f the s eed in situ loped in their integument lits ; two fruits open, showing seeds divested of the integu- ment ; one cut through the emb and the apical pit. The ' type specimen in H Becc. The fruits were preserved in alcohol Latin Diagnosis. Zalacca sumatrana Becc. sp. nov. Frondium segmentis amplis, valde elongatis, regulariter et alterne aequidistantibus, rachi tantUm in d orso spinosa ; fructibus obpyriformibus, basi longe angusteque attenuates ; seminibus anguste oblongis et irregulariter obtuseque angulosis, apice rotundatis. basi attenuatis. .5. Zalacca Clemensiana Becc. Notes on Philip. Palms in Philip. Journ. Science (Botany) iv, (1909), 618. Description. — Leaves very large, 5 or more metres long, the petiolar part densely armed with large, broad-based, long spines ; rhachis in the intermediate portion acutely trigonous, with a line of long spines along the centre beneath. Leaflets interruptedly fasciculate ; the fascicles in the intermediate portion usually alternate and formed by 3 or 4 leaflets on each side of the rhachis, somewhat pointing in different ways, elongate-lanceolate, rigidly papyraceous, green and shining above, ashy-coloured beneath, slightly sigmoid at the base ; the apex briefly falcate, abruptly and asymmetrically tapering into a long filamentose tip ; the margins minutely spinulous from the middle up ware Is transverse veinlets very sharp and prominent on the upper surface, much less visible on the lower ; the mid-costa prominent and smooth on both surfaces ; the lower and intermediate leaflets about 60 cm. long an d 6 < cm. wide, distinctly 3-eostulate ; upper leariets smaller and with the side costas slender and evanescent upwards ; the leaflets of the end more distinctly falcate and more sigmoid than the others, and more or less united. Male spadices arising erect from the axillas of the long, inclusive of a short pedicellar expanded bases of the petioles, 60 — 90 cm. part, and bearing 5 — 7 branches. the one above the other, 5 — 8 cm. apart ? i Ann. Roy. Bot. Gaed., Calcutta. Vol. XII. i ^ I si' ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Z. clemensiana each bear respective and much several .ke-beari alternate spikes. Primary branches (20 cm. long), thinly pathe 1 than th tomentose mar ted or split along one side and reduced to strips and fil M> f le spikes cylind raceous, on a very short pedicel, d 5 to 7 cm. long, 10 to 11 mm broad, b which is embraced by a in secondary spathe ; the spathels or b concave, very broad, acute and striate, ind short c s of the distinct d broad membranous spikes id not so as to fori from the out ramentaceous. annular involucres (at least at the tl are bracteiform, united together time), and invisible de even when the fl Male are very young ; bracteoles d owers (pink, at least, when young — Elme s ma ud a b the usely woolly 5 mm. long, hels by the full length of the corolla ; calyx at fi entire, later split into 3 hyaline, striate segments ; the corolla is lie, attenuate a than the calyx, ted nearly to the mid its segments ovate, subacute, ead d the anthesis ; stame not much longer d solid below ; is all of the "N* same length ; filaments ckish with subulate apices, ed tsid d anth male anthers obi obtuse. Fe dices apparently sh tha n the the ones and having a thicker axial part ; one (entire or a branch ?) seen by bears several very approximate .sessile spikes, almost hidden by the disintegrated spathes, reduced to fine capillary fil The spikes are only 3 — 4 cm. in length, but thickish (15 mm. across), and have relatively fe the v approximat thels have a very broad base and a triangular point, are membr flowe rs and strongly st natch one b veined ; each embraces a female fl of the female flower hairy-paleace accompanied by a neuter at apex. Fe d, 8 mm. long ; the calyx fi com late, bl concave, thinly merab divided into 3 ovate or ovatedanceo- nearly hyal the corolla is longer by striately veined sepals ; semi-ovate-triangular, third than the calyx, divided to the middle into 3 sh, acute lob d ventricose in the lower part ; od ff, subulate, carrying slender, acuminate, rudim ided ovary globular-ovoid, ed densely witl l ad ignias relatively small, include in th corolla spicuke ; style very th sh obt A ~ rather large, impe during the anthesis, fleshy and not much smaller than their fe 11 formed, 6—7 mm. long, at times owers but narrower : the corolla the calyx is as in the female fl d in its lower attenuate part is divided abov three triangular thick segments ; the stamens h abortive anthers ; rudimentary ovary none. bul filame The re into nd small lng to Elmer, as from the nature of th d by the natives, globose and not seen by me, but accord - 5'5 cm. m ovary certainly clothed with scales hav form tips ; probably it resembles that of Z ed meter and ', upturned l \ Habitat. mens of the The Philippine Islands.— The species was first established ma plant only, Minda: Found at Lake L C ected by A Keithly (N Strong Clemens in 1907 in Herb. M again also in Mindanao, with male and female on speci- June 1907 in and Becc.) at Todaya (Mt. Apo) in the District of Davao (Sept. 1909— N dices by Mr. A. D. Elmer o. Becc shall Klmer notes that it forms large ravines near streams at ab dense 1000 fts in the 11879 in Herb mois fe e soil of in. side of the grows in thickets on th e mou range, and that it is stemless, Talon b 7 to 13 in a cluster. / / • m \ Z. wallickiana. ZALACCA. 83 Observat scales having It has the leaflets white beneath ned spinulous tips as in Z. edul d the fruit ered with d Z. vermicular is. but is distinguishable by its fascicled leatl the spathels idually d d especially by th male pik Ik aving leavSt at the flowering time, and not connate by their margins so as to form circular rings round the axis— a character which I have not found in any other Zalacca known to me. • Plate 49. — Zalacca Clemensiana Becc. — Intermediate portion of a leaf ma] >■ spadix ; separate male spikelets with flowers in bud ; female spadix. From Klmer's No. 11879 in Herb. Beccari. 6. Zalacca Wallichiana— Mart, Hist. Nat. Palm, iii, 201 (1st edit.) 200 (2nd edit.) and 325 pi. 118, 119, 136 ; K u r z Ned. Indie xxvii, (1864), 216 : For Fl. Brit. Bu Malesia. iii, 66 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India, vi, in Xatuurk. Tijdsef scnr. 473 Mai. Penins ii, 170. rma ii, 511 ; Becc. ; Ridley, Mat. FL • Z. edulis (non in Reinw.) Wa nom. Z. Rumphii) ; G PI. As R b- Calc J rn. Nat II v. 8 : P ms Brit. Z. Rumph Ind. 10, pi. CLXXV (spadix only). V i um 159. Z. hj Griff. in c Journ. Nat. II 15, pi. CLXXVIII, A. B. C Becc. I.e. v, 13 ; Palms Brit. d Mart. I.e. pi. LXXI f. v. 1 (fructus) ; k i Description. — Tufted, almost stemless ed species. Leaves large, about 5 or more long, armed m d sobolife long on ke Zi • edul is d th alone b 2 m th bl e whole, the petiolar part flattened rigid long acumin light-coloured, 4—8 cm. long spines, spreading or slightly deflexed, several united by their bases and encircling the petiole with more or less, broken the rhachis similarly armed in its lower - ■ pan, but the spines bee numerous as they spiral te 1 ess tant, <1, and finally solitary above. Leaflets di ated in groups of 2 — 4 on itinctly unequ h side of the rhachis and diver from their base part, above less elongate linear- slightly sigmoid or in every group, oblong-lanceolate, b in thei r this slightly falcate and upper ■fil bruptly acuminate, terminating in a mor (1 or on both rfac but tip ; below they taper gradually to a rather narrow ght base ; they are 3-costulate green and almost glossv ghtly paler derneath th e mid slightly spinulous toward the though at times apex * is usually smooth, as are also the sid costae ; margins spinulous, ciliate om ab e the middle or thereabout - d leatl he short lowe the are 65 — 70 cm. long, and 8 — 9 cm. d the r nd flet mor distinctly sigmoid upper are Male th narrowest d hav some at the apex are upper are fluent : the a di leaves, is elongate, nodd mora long-acuminate filiform tip than coming forth as usual from the axilla of the lower or ed, branched from the base or divided into everal second and tertiary flaccid and dul spike-b branch 30—80 cm. long ; primary spathes elongate-lanceolate, acumina ered with a thin I Ann. Roy. Bot. Gakd., Calcutta, Vol. XII. i / f si ANNALS OF THE KOYAL BOTANIC GARDEN', CALCUTTA. Z. wallichiana detachable rusty furfuraceus urn lacerated longitudinally. The male spike- bearing branches are covered with thick brown wool, and carry alternately, and at of 5—7 cm., several solitary spikes, each completely enveloped is thinly membranous, dry, splitting longitudinally regular distances 1 i y ; i along d the ax ial spathe, side. hich nd usually longer than the spike it embraces. Th e sp ikes have a tomentose appearance, especially before the ri open are drieal. ri 5 — 8 cm. long, 12 mm. across, quite sessile and with a The spathels are connate by their bas round apex. broadly ovate, 4 mm. long; each embraces otherwise d very a and has a broadly triangular acute tip, which only just surpasses he wool of the floral bracteoles, otherwise the spathrls arc hid by the wool of the bracteoles ; h latter are thinly mem bra nous or hy th lateral connate by their bases, the middle laminar, entire ; all villose on their backs d much more den so at the apices. briefly rted during an thesis, from the wool of the b °i e flowers narrowly clavate, acute (when in bud), 8 mm. long; the calyx • at first completely encloses the corolla, but later splits d into 3 broadly linear, membr subhyaline, obtuse segments ; the corolla is slightly longer than the calyx and is divided to nit the middle into 3 ovate segments, which have the apices furnished inside about with 1 — 3, very the latter d hair-like oflexed d separating the anthers ; dly linear. I s pad ix d of several unequal spike-bearing h d of which some are rather rigid and elongate, and others creeping th Spih numer d alternate on the b but larger and with lar later, the flowers being flowers : & a d ome iches, as in the male spadix when the flowers are young ; ted, the tomentum remains ed the at the flowering time the s d have a very short terminal k are 6 — 9 cm. 1 ong, a nd 2' 5 — 3 /Cm across, ai broadly triangular and mu mb ;ro ; the spathels are coriaceous, very two flowers, one of which is large and female and the other, at its side, much sin and neuter ; floral bracteoles relatively large, the two of the female flower connate at the b apex Fe fi ovoid-conical ; the calyx d d densely villose at the I into 3 oblong-ovate, blunt, thinly memb parts ; the corolla somewhat longer than the calyx, divided to the middle into 3 gul b spreading d the anthesis ; very acute segments, at first connivent. od subulate and .with id anthers ; ovary ovoid and d d with ascendent spiculae ; style short ; stigmas lanceolate, rather acute. N* ft d very much like the male ones, 8 — 10 mm. long ; the stamens have the filaments d b & ab anthe F ob for when ■hly mat 7—8 cm 1 ong (or at times less?) and 4 cm. across, broadly an 1 rather sudd conically shaped in its upper d part, and tapering below to a narrow base ; scales in i numerous longitudinal series. d spinuliform d brittl e tip. Seed s or 3, f r homboid wi ith a very subulat e oblong, trigonous, convex on the dorsum of the about 3 cm. long, the breadth ab half as much ; the apical intrusion ument penetrates more than half way into the albumen ; emb basal, exactly in opposition to the I pit. « Habitat. — 1 in the tropical fo all over P d to T (Kurz.) I n B at Moul J fee bold No. taban down fern, spec.) 4 / z. tea llichti tana. ZALACl A. 85 / d at Ueehold Xo. 14274, Male specimen in Herb also m Mavtharouk, on the S Burma at Amherst (Branch's). In Siam (Schombu 300 m. elev. d on the sea coast at Herb. Calc.) and at Bangkok (P in P In the Malay Peninsula on the Tahan River in Pahang (Ridley) and Permatang Bertam (Ridley No. t ml kit Juru, Province Wellesley Griffith writes of his Z. macrostachya, which certainly is the femal {Ridley). plant of Z. Wallickiana, that it grows "in marshy, damp ami exceedingly places at Ching near Malacca " and that its i the ground on which the spike of flowers are fr d so long as " to reach to be d. and often imme is sa *sed in water, which d to grow also in Per d in the r localities of this species n It S in or a nor e. S d B but I have not seen specimens from these places. Doubtless Z. hj Griff IS the f plant of Z. U Mart., as is easy to verify comparing G plate CLXXV I II B (Z. macrostachya) with Martius's plate 119, I {Z. a portion of the female spadix both representing in flower. To Z. Wallickiana also belongs Cat., No. 5000, male specimen in Herb de Candolle ; in this specimen the spatlies are slightly less than twice as long as the spikes. In Kurz No. 3328 in Herb. Calc. the spathes are just twice as long as the male spikes. In Griffith's plate CLXXV the spikes are slightly sh th their spathes. In Griffith's plate CLXXV the figure representing a b of the male spadix really b to Z. Wallich but in this fig the leaf seems to belong to another obably to Z. ajfi as its segments are s d not d as in Z. llich Z. Wall is \ veil d by its leaves having a long petiolar part armed with spiral interrupted whorls of very large spines ; by the leaflets green on both f oblanceolate, narrowing to a nearly straight base in groups of 2 — 4 on each side of the rhachis. d divaricating and pointing in different di ated by their bases in each group ; in having the mid-costa above spike-bea loped by only ; by the elongate d odd male spad having long spin >end ulous branchlets ; by the sessile c? and ? »sed distant spikes, enve- ted spathes, longer than the spikes ; by the male spikes tomentose, and by their flowers hav the apex of the segments of the corolla d w th roflexed nd by the floral bracteoles b densely villose ; l»y the f ob conical in its upper part, and having spinous scales and oblong seeds. Plate 50. — Zalacca W Mart.—F a leaf a little b diate portion of the petiole ; male spadix bearing spikes still young om a plant d at Buitenzorg (Herb. B Male kelet at the oment of the thes om Meebold's No. 14274. P 50A Zalacca Wall the Botanic Garden at Calcutta Plate 51. — Zalacca Wallichiana Mart. — Portion of a leaf near the apex ; portion of a female spadix in flower ; the apical part of a spadix with young fruits. / 86 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. I Z. glabrescens From a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Becc). Young fruits ; from Meebold's No. 14610. One mature fruit, from Amherst (Brandis). 7. Zalacca glabrescens. Gritf. in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, 14 : Pal Brit. Ind. 17, t. 179 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 170. VI 473 ms Ridley, Dkscription. — Stemles species. Leaves as usual, but apparently a smaller plant than the allied 3 in. long (at times i nor th pecimen, is in its lower part obt petiole, 1*25 m. long in one trigonous and armed with a fe rows of fluent, robust with the spines solitary, beneatl i sight spines, 4-5 cm. long ; 1 ttered and very unequal ab lesi ds it is terete pted and the rhachis in its first portion is more th a line of straight, d horizontal or or ad furrow on h side of the median dge ove and along the centre 5 armed on the dorsum spines, and has a deep b upwards it is trigonous. Th leaves of young plants have the petioles (when dry) trigonous, and the leaflets equidistant f he middl above in full on one plane, very plainly side of the rhachis, with Ion gl plants the leafl pted, two or three being ts are all d on each th e mi ddl e d ware i are g vacant spaces bet th thinly papyraceous green and almost groups, at least from surfaces, distinctly sigmoid-lanceolate, broadest about their middle and tapering downward subulate, filiferous on both thence or to a rather acute base, and narrowing upwards to a falcat rriform apex ; have 3 slender costae, acute and smooth transverse vemlets not very approximate ciliate only near the apex •> the 3 mm. apart) ; mar ermed spinulous, 5-6*5 cm wi the lowest are leaflets are 30 — 35 cm. long, and some perinost are confl n< 1 for longer, but only 3-4 cm a bilobed flabell cleft. Ma le the lobes b sp branched from the b wide deeD the 4-5 primary spathes very sh b forming a panicle 25—40 cm. long; th fill 3hes 7 — 10 cm ventral i long. d rigid, adeni bub ab thinly rusty tomentose d in th b s mb j th side ai "urfurace only one or two ; part which is itself provided with a ithes of the unclosed on the ke -e into a lanceolate, acuminate, papyraceous, 5 spikes, the upper ones lower branches b are s pathe, ged into a limb Ldai^ The" d by a pedicellar rusty fu rather large, loosely infun- m spathes, 4-9 cm. long ; when young are for kes are entirely an d b were regularly formed subsquarrose appearance, by d exserted from the looking as if they d rings, one into the other, lat ha when covered with full grown flo a are 13 mm. in the rim ndulat d by their bases, forming the rings spoken of above and ha special flowe paleaceous. during the anth and very obsoletely toothed, each tooth ■bracteoles a ho than the ding to a bract M fl th and slightly hai sma with th d linear hy; is divided lobes of egment as long as its upper third in ■ base : but dist anthers stame 5-6 mm. long, produced beyond the spathels only corolla ; the calyx splits into 3 ntire part of the corolla, which jntary ovary basal, very the lower fleshy o 3 oblon, equal, th oblong. Fe segments ; rudimentary • ' filaments subulate from a thickish spadi consisting of a fe branch 15—30 / v > Z. secunda. ZALACCA. 87 cm. long, clothed with several spathes similar' to those b earing a solitary •ped nodding spik of th 8 cm. long* male dix, ■ each ^ Vi * liU 6 - DV,llUttl J lun^-pcuuiiuuiuie uouuing spite, i — 3 cm. long, 2 cm. in and terminated by an apiculum, formed by small approximate much spathels ; the no (1 margi In mal spathels are ' very broad, coriaceous and connate In- duced th eir dene /?< hich is large and female, the other at its sid with every spathel are, as usual, two flowers, one ments into 3 obliquely ovoid, 8 mm the corolla, about one of e, is smaller and neuter. Female long ; the calyx splits into 3 oblong * blunt third longer than the calyx, is d seg- stvle short ckish triangular segments ; sterile stamens are present to the midd ovary strigose thick stigmas thick, elongate, trigonous ; special female flower b ovate, slightly h b only *the keeled back in good condit sterile by me, described by G Neuter Jj< the l as having 6 b d an d r d iwers not seen stamens, >*mall » of the ovary within the attenuate base Fruit (immature) broadly ovoid (when mature Hook 2 — 5 cm. in diameter dd ted into a columnar beak 12 — 15 mm. long, 6 — 7 mm. ck (1 d by the small remains of the style and stigmas ; the more developed fruits seen by me were 53 in long d - of IS othed like the body with dark b n keeled scales, a dent, setose tip. nged in numerous vertical series, 7 the beak) ; the beak boidal, slightly convex, obtus fruit d ha vi ng a ved ascen- Habitat. — The Malay Peninsula Penang (Lewes ex Griffith and No. 2435 ex Hooker), Penang Hill, Road to Balik Pulau (Curtis ex Bidley) : in the District of Perak (Scortechini in Herb. Beccari) : in Selangcr ; Kwala Lumpur. Ulu Selan- gor (Ridley). Pahan : Tahan River Woods (Bidley.) Obsei or less d nrovided — Easily distinguishable, by its leaves having unequidistano, more wi th very male spikes having a glab ped, sigmoid, concolorous leaflets ; by the , very slightly woolly bracteoles, and m li d being aspect ; by the b of the femal .1 l»ea ing a solitary spike ; but especially and narrow beak. the f very b « I was mistaken (Malesia, hi i 64) in referring this species to Z. edulis. The description above is based mainly upon Scortechini's specimens. Plate 52.— Zalacca glabrescens Griff.— Male spadix' having some of the spikes with flowers very young ; in the other the flowers are ready to expand ; two spikes at the flowering time, intermediate portion of a leaf. F in Herb. Beccari. rom Scortechini's specimen / Plate 53.— Z b af Griff Intermed th a good portion of the petiole ; fema spad ovaries and young frui specimen in Herb. Be d lower part of a (or a portion of it) ; in different degrees of development. From Scortech 8. Zalacca secuxda Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v 12 • Pal ms vi, 472. / t Brit. Ind. 14 pi. CLXXVII ; Becc. Malesia, iii, 67 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit Ind. I S 88 ANNATE OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. z. la *, c collinus Griff. Pal B Ind. p. CLXXXVI f only). D Nothing is known about the general habit of this plant, but apparently it is les- me d with spines h is usual with its conveners. L very' large, 10 m. long (M minute, rusty pulverulent ii like the lower part of the the periole is covered fugaciously with a very d is terete in its upper part, an 1 is rhachis, but only on its b with a few med der. needle-like, rounded on fa spines. 2-3 cm long ; the rhachis is, in its lower part, the back, and has above two longitudinal f th of leaflet higher up it is trigonous, d quite ■s for the insertion of d. Leaflets in groups 9-° 6 on each side of rh in straight (not sigmoi d nor its lower part, regularly alternate above, ishiug falcate), narrowly lanceolate, almost equally d mini from the ddle d both d very acute an d (in the lower leaflets) filament Ok ■ gradually acuminate above to a very tip, equally green and almost shining on sur both surfaces, acutely tricostulate, . the 3 costae b spinulous on the upper fa fr about the d upwards, sm beneath ; mar b spinulous above th ddl e transverse veinlets very d extremely numerous an I approximate; the med nets 85-90 cm ipressedly d sharp, long, all f 6*5-7 cm. wide. and less acuminat and are united by their bas bearing at diff he lowermost shorter and narrower, the upper d smaller except the two of the apex, which are th m M covert- part, brand rent levels several d with a thin, soft, rusty, detach dix ke-b rath er la with hlets a ob I axial part r spathes ind tubular in their closed basal ed lanceolate-acuminate and partly clasping abo^ no- or recurved, up to 13 m. long or Th flaccid odd sh spike-bearing divided into m aller branches in their lower part, and be al pike The spikes h in general an alternate sec und ement am I come forth solitary from the mouth of a second spathe, are 6-7 cm. long, and 14-15 mm. across, are supported by a der elongate dicellar part as long as or a littl longer than the spathes and itself sheathed by several dibuliform tertiary spathes. d spath have a tubular base, and a lanceolate-acuminate and The Lted limb. form. Tl spathel of the soik a re u n d by their bases, b h a i. deltoid, very obtuse, f time of the anthesis, mos limb, entirely M s 8 mm. long, clavate at the ted from the spathels ; th fi completely encloses the corolla, but later is d in a little longer than tlie calvx and divided (not quite ■lobed to e calyx at the corolla the mi iddle) into brae tose 3 oblong segments ; the stamens have linear-oblong anthers ; floral are linear, hairy-paleac30us above, d give the appearance at erect, with a stout certain axial pen part, ods of divided their into d kes Fe a oim m a few short, erect. thick spike-bearing branches ; the lowest spathes are d. from a short b base, into a very long (40 cm in one speciment) acuminate s olid point, which is armed with si those of the nder need I mal cm. in diameter coriaceous, pad 3 fly spines but b ? th spathes of the branches are similar to d and shorter. Fe spi 'Ices ckish ed. 6 — 8 cm. long, eadin or d. Spathels ited by their bases, but having a very dly triangular concave, obt fr ee part ; they embrace 2 rl one of which is large and female an d I r \ Z. secunda. ZALACCA. 89 floral the other by its Bide, smaller an 1 neuter, but nevertheless relatively large ; bracteoles short, very densely villoso-ciliate. Female flowers globose-ovoid, 8 mm in diameter ; the calyx befo th anthesis d from a little below the middl into three lobes, later split entirely into three ovate, bluntish d tl le ' corolla a little longer th thick. th t j calyx, divided to the ddle into 3 triangular. acute connivent segments, ventricose below ; staminodes apparently none i ovary globose, distinctly 3 d. covered d th d spiculiform scales ; style very short ; stigmas lanceolate-trigonous, acute connivent. long, trigonous-pvramidate, acute and tapering b to a i flowe\ base. mm / glob turbinate, very variable in size and shape accord & to the number of d s it contains, but always rounded at apex, if the fruit contains only one seed it is an d very sh at has ■» • < v globular and 4 cm. in diameter ; \vh th seeds are two it is didy d if there are three, the ! IS 8 uh- The pericarp is a thousand or trigonous with rounded angles, and is 6-6*5 cm. in diameter. crustaceous and brittle, and is clothed with very numerous, more, narrow thick is h subulate-lanceolate, dark brown, glossy scales 8 — 10 mm. long, and 2-3 mm. broad at the base ; the scales of the upper part of the fruit are ascending, those of the middle are at first horizontal, or slightly deflexed with ascending points, those of the base are entirely deflexed. The remains of the stigmas form a small inconspicous mucro. The seeds are covered with a detachable thick and of a corky structure in the dry fruit ; when only one seed developes. it is globular and about 3 cm. in diam. ; when there are two, integument 2 mm. they are convex dorsally and have flat inner faces ; when three in number they are about 3 cm. long and broad, and 2"5 k, have also the do but show two flat inner faces, separated by a rounded salient angle, the side even, angles are also very obtuse ; in every case the surface is dark b b not hed d h a deep small apical ow ng to the canal containing the intrusion of th which half way into the albumen. The albumen is bony and very e d * holl 3nds the embryo is more leadi th rarely ba or i n ab the base d d sublateral, its with the al holl being indicated t remains a circular ghtly depressed area, 6 mm. in diamete / e / Habitat. — Griffith established this species on male specimens only collected in the forests about Kujoo, in Upper Assam, in the Mishmee mountains, and in the lower ranges of hills on the borders of Upper Assam. My description is based entirely on very complete specimens forwarded to me by Mr. G. Mann, and- collected in the Makum Forest in Upper Assam, with flowers in January and with mature fruits in October 1890. 1888 It is a verv fi species, quite distinct from any oth its not very spinous leaves, /having straight, lanceolate, m leaflets all free, except the two at the apex, b spinulous on 3 costae on the upper surface, and mar ked by minute and approximate tranverse veinlets ; by the m spadices being much branched with long spike-bearing, nodd or pend branches spathes ; by th male spikes having a pedu part about as long as their the femal spadix being stout and erect, with several b Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII / 90 ANNAI.s OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN'. CALCUTTA. Z. arfinis. spike- bearing branches ; by the fruit globose-turbinate 1-3-aeeded,- covered with innu- merable, very narrow, subulate, lanceolate scales, partly ascendent, and partly recurved ; by the largo seeds, about as long as broad, globular or very obsoletely angular, and round on the back. Griffith did not describe the leaves of this Zalacca, but most probably those that he attributes to C. vollinus Griff. C. erecfus Roxb.) belong to it a I have already pointed out in my monograph of Calamus. Plate 54.— Zalacca secunda Griff. — An entire male spadix ; the apex of a leaf- From Mann's specimens in Herb. Beccari. Female spadix (in two parts) with very Plate 55. — Zalacca d young fruits ; fruits with 3 seeds, one in the upper, the other in the lower part of tin* plate ; another fr with two seed t vv o d two seeds d of the integument ; seed 5 covered by the integument ; cut longitudinally through the intrusion of the integument and the embryo; seed in transverse section; intermediate leaflets. F n Mann's specimens in Herb. Beccari. i 9. Zalacca affinis Griff in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. pi. CLXXVI, A. B. C; Mart. Hist. Nat. Pal m i\ • i v, 9; Palms* Brit. Tnd. 12. iii, 202. pi. ZXXI. f. Becc. Malosia, iii, 67 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 169 Mat. Fl. Mai. Penina. ii. 169. ' Ridh ^y D Appa r does not differ much in habit from the other species. Leaves about 2*30 m. long in the pinniferous part ; the petiole elongate, armed tli very •1 ed d deflexed spines, 3 — 6 cm. long, 3 very acuminate, unequal, d mm. broad or th b es. (1 mate in sm series some duced to h or approxi- sharp prickles; the rhacliis is also arniel below with fascicles of similar large spines in its lower portion, while above th spines b geminate or solitary and grad smaller. Leaflet are all on one plane, but distinctly with long vacant spaces d in groups of 2 — -4 on each id oE the rhachis d oblanceolate-spathulate, diminish below to a narrow, distinctly curved or sigmoid base, and are suddenly acuminate above io a slightly falcate point, which ends in a filiform setulose tip; they are green on both surfaces, slightly paler b part, have & concave-convex or 3 dist flated in their upper eostae, smooth on both surfaces, and several second transverse veinlets not very approximate ; margins spinulous only t he i third rmed fl are 35 40 near the apex ; d 5 — 9 cm. wide in their d broadest part ; the lower leaflets are smaller, some of th are confluent. The male dix upper e apical ones tail-like b 1) is formed by several, elongate, flaccid, nodd 45 — 50 or mor (?) cm. long, either solitary, or in groups of 2-3 at the axillas of th lanceolate acuminate, much longer than their exsuccous, papyraceous, mor or less rusty-furfuraceous. fully developed flo S[> having sessile spikes spathes ; the latter are respective spikes (10—18 cm. long), d, thinly and fugaciously d short, 3'5 — 6 cm. long, 12 mm. in d wh en th of a tomentose appearance, especially alter the fall of the \ I Z. ajfinis. ZALACCA. 91 fl 3448). ngapore : i; Ridtej h. CI 1. c. gives also the £< at Larut (Kings Malayan localities. in the forests K an Chu, Dind tana m Prov. of Pad G Tungul. damp places S cultivated in the Bot G (Becc art). It of the East of 4 " Salak utaii tli Island dley). Native names : troduced from Lampong in Assam Ouml> collector) ; o This snecies he genus Z fe d b y neuter ones ; further the fruits are smooth, b I. d scales, of ous tip. composed of true in the axillae of flowers, not accom- clothed with larare h the apices are not d into an upturned sub or Z. # d d ■ characterized by its leaves having the petiole armed with large, or shortly seriate spines ; by its leaflets being green on 'both d and in interrupted groups of 2 — -1 on dd acuminate to a h side of the rhachis, oblanceolate elongate bra in iches, bearing in the axillas of much obovoid or subturbinate f short toment apex ; by its Ion sessile spikes, male spadices having sin jrer acuminat s pathes ; by its 3-seeded pose; in a 26 vertical series ; th the groups oid or )ad edi 1 sharply grooved scales, dis obtusely trigonous and sparing 11 integument. ped \ • I ha ho we describe! mainly the specimens c do not seem to d ted by me in Suma \Y hich amount of ab especially in the may be essentially from those of Malacca, although a certain d the size and width of the leafl a n d of th mal <• kes gth of the female flower-bearing b li size and shape of the f •anchlets, and in the le is also rather variable. Plate 56. — Zallacca affini mediate portion of a leaf. From a specim s Griff.— Male spadix (or one of its divisions) ; inter en gathered by me in 1878 the Garden of Buitenzorg from a cultivated plant introduced from Lampong in Sumatra > (Herb. Beccari.) Pl o< . Zalacca ffi d h r a division of it?) with not fully developed H portion of a leaf: femal spadix one of the branch of the d th mipcnes with mature entire, one cut open section ; seeds , s two of the th cut bowing loitudiii d by me in S fn seed flower-bearing three mature f i one in situ, a d in transverse gh the embryo and the apical pit. F The fruits /vve ed in alcohol ^ Z. dubid. ZALACCA. 93 10. Malacca dubia Becc. Malesia, iii, 68 Description. — Leaves exactly as those of Z. affims; the petiole elongate. anno (1 with very rigid, flattened, light coloured, very acuminate, unequal, spreading deflexed spines, scattered or approximate in small series, 3 — 6 cm. long, 3 — -1 broad at the base, some reduced to short prickles : or mm. ^s ; the rhachis feebly armed below, in its lower portion, with a few spines similar to those of the petiole and smooth above. Leaflets all on one plane, in groups of 2 — 4 on each side of the rhachis with long vacant spaces interposed, oblanceolate-spathulate, tapering bd ow to slightly paler beneath, concavo-convex or subinflate in thei a narrow curved or sigmoid base, suddenly acuminate above into a slightly faleatr point, and ending in a filiform setulose tip ; they are green on both surfaces r upper part, have 3 distinct quite smooth costre and several secondar not very approximate; margins spinulous near the apex only; the intermediate leaflets are 60 — 70 cm. long, 8 — 9 cm. broad in their upper third and broadest y nerves ; transverse veinlen part ; the upper leaflets are shorter, and a few at the end are confluent. The cm. male spadix (or one of its primary divisions ?) forms a panicle about 40 long, diminishing above, curved or nodding, composed of several short rather approximate spike-beartng branch lets, of w diich the lowermost are 12 — 15 cm long an d carry alternately 4—5 spikes ; the upper branches become gradually smaller, and carry fewer spikes ; the primary sj at lies are narrow, about as as thei long k respective branches, lacerated, finely rusty-furfuraceous ; the spikes have a glabrous appearance, even after the flowers have fallen, are very shortly pedicellate or subsessile, solitary at the axilla of (and slightly longer than) thei respective spathes, 3 — 4 cm. long, and when with full grown flowers are about 1 cm. in diameter ; the spathels or bracts of the spikes, although united by thei bases, do not form annular rings, and in correspondence to each pair of How are distinct, bracteiform, membranous broadly cordate and obtuse eir ers special flower bracteoles are so united together so as to foi at apex ; the mi two truncate membranous cups not woolly, and provided only with some elongate sub vesicular paleolae. Male flowers 5 mm. long, having only the base of the calyx immersed in the involucre, ascendent, oblong, obtusely trigonous, acute or apiculate, often slightly curved ; calyx narrowing to an acute base and splitting into 3, oblong, striately-veined divisions ; corolla usually twice as long as the calyx but at times the base, parted below the mi Idle into 3 oblong acute lobes less attenuate ciu stamens with subulate filaments and broadly linear or oblong anth ers i 1 • * rudimentary ovary very small and papilliform. Female spadix apparently very similar to that of Z. affinis, but smaller, and with shorter flower-bearing branchlets. Fruit elongate ellipsoid or ventricose-fusiform and narrowly conical above, terminated connivent remains of the stigmas, which form a very small acute by the mucro ; scales in 24 longitudinal series, rhomboidal, narrowly and not deeply grooved along the centre, chestnut-brown with a slightly darker intra-marginant line and with a blunt apiculum at apex, more produced and visible in the lower scales than elsewhere, and rendering the fruit scabrid to the touch ; the margins nearly entire. Seed solitary (in the several fruits observed) ovoid-elliptical, terete, rounded at both ends, 2*5 cm. long, 13 mm. in diameter ; the apical intrusion of the \ « « 94 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. Z. bo meet) sis I • integument extends one-third of the entire length of the albumen ; the embryo is basilar, exactly opposite to the apical hollow and also penetrates a third of the albumen ; the latter bony and homogeneous ; integument of the seed, scanty. It is d in th Hot Gard at B in May 1870 collected some male specimens, from a most probably from some of the S litenzorg, where I first troduced by Teijsmann, a from Buitenzor ds. Recently I have received (again cimens of the same plant with ma 1 and also. apparently, its fruits ; but in any case I think it safer to .1 Z. du hi to be, as yet, d on the. male plant only. Observations. — It is certainly closely related to Z. affinis, from which it differs in the male spadices having several short spike-bearing branches, and by the spikes being shortly pedicelled, longer than their respective spat lies and not tomentose ; by the special bracteoles forming small cups, not woolly, but furnished only with a few elongate vesicular, piliform paleolae. The female spadix, supposed a flints, as is c on- to belong to Z. dubia, is almost tin distinguishable from that of Z. also the fruit, the latter lmvever differing in containing one seed only and sequently in being much narrower, assuming that the presence of one seed only is a normal* not merely an occasional character. Plate 58. — Zalacca dubia Becc. 4 spadix ; portion of the petiole ; interme- diate portion of a leaf. Specimen from a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg in 1878 (Herb. Beccari). Plate 59(A). — Zalacca dubia Becc. — Portion of a leaf near the apex ; branch of the fructiferous spadix ; mature fruits ; seed cut longitudinally through the apical pit and the embryo. All specimens from a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Beccari). 11. Zalacca borxeexsis Becc. Malesia, iii, 68. Description. — Palm of which the fruit only is known ; certainly closely related to Z. affinis and Z. dubia. Fruit ovoid, suddenly attenuate above from a broad round base, terete, 5 — 5*5 cm. long, 3*5 cm. in diameter, having a conical mammillate point, terminated by a very small mucro formed by the remains of the stigmas ; scales in 18 longitudinal series, of a uniform chestnut-brown colour, broadly rhomboidal, considerably broader than long, the largest 1 cm. wide, sharply grooved along the centre, the grooves being continuous all along the entire length of the fruit ; the points of the scales are obtuse, and only in the lowest very slight ly thickened or prominent. Seeds usually 3, enveloped by a not very thick fleshy integument ; when divested of this they are 2"5 — 3 cm. long, 15-20 mm. wide two inner faces 12 — 13 mm thick, oblong, subtrigonous, having a convex dorsum and separated by a faintly salient obtuse angle ; the side angles are also obtuse ; both ends are rounded and above is a deep, small, apical hollow, leading to the in- trusion of the integument, which penetrates of the entire length of the albu- men ; the embryo is basilar, exactly opposite to the apical hollow, and also penetrates about the fourth part in length of the very hard homogeneous albu- men. *• \ i \ i Z. confer t a. ZALACCA. 9 o Habitat. — Borneo; at Kuching in Sarawak (Beccar^. Observations. — The fruits of this species are very much like those of Zalarca aflinis, of which Z. bomeensis probably represents only a geographical form. The fruits of Z. borneensis, however, differ from those of Z. ajjinis in having the scales larger and disposed in 18 (and not in 24-26) vertical series. Plate 59(B). — Zalacca borneensis Becc. — Three fruits at the bottom and on the right hand side of the plate, one cut open to show two of the three seeds in situ ; a third seed cut longitudinally through the embryo and the apical pit. From specimens in alcohol (Herb. Beccari). \ t 12. Zalacca conferta Griff, ii Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, v j 16: Pal ins Brit Ind. 19, pi. CLXXX, A.B.C.; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, iii, 201, p. 173, 174, Z. XIII, f. XXIX. an d pi. XXII, .f. XIII • Becc. Malesia. I m, 67; Hook, f. FL Brit, Ind. vi, 473; Ridley, Mat Fl. Mai. Penins, ii, 169. Description. — A gregarious palm, dioecious? (or polygamous on different indi- viduals — Griff.). Stem stout and very short. Leaves large * 5—6 m. Ion S or more j including the petiole ; the patiole alone about half the length of the pinniferous part, subterete, flattish above, of a soft structure internally, and consequently boldly wrinkled longitudinally in the herbarium specimens, armed with slender l'o mm. needle-like, light coloured or schistaceous spines, 4 — 5 cm. long and only 1— broad at their bases, closely approximate in short transverse series ; the rhachis is trigonous and armed throughout on its lower surface with the same kind of spines as the petiole, but more slender, and in smaller fascicles. Leaflets numer- ous, equidistant, alternate, green on both surfaces, very slightly paler beneath, very narrowly oblanceolate-ensiform, gradually attenuate below from above the middl e to a straight (not sigmoid) base, and upwards to an acuminate, symme- trical or very slightly falcate apex ; main nerves or costae 3, more or less bristly- spinulous on the upper surface towards the apex, where the margins are al so spreadingly setose, otherwise smooth ; transverse veinlets numerous, very sharp ; the leaflets of the upper third part of the rhachis are 60 — 65 cm. long, 5 cm. wide ; those above are gradually smaller, and all are individually distinct ; only the two leaflets of the end, which are the smallest, are shortly united by their bases. Male spadix Female (or polygamous) spidix erect, composed of several, short approximate branches, each bearing 1 — 2 shortly stalked spikes, forming by their union a dens e ovoid mass, 30 — 40 cm. long. Primary outer spathes papyraceous • sheathing in their basal part, unclosed and broadening above into a inner spathes smaller, membranous, very ; finely long-acuminate. lanceolate, slightly spinous limb, prolonged *into a very elongate, thickish. gradu- ally acuminate point, which, occasionally, bears rudimentary leaflets at its apex ; Spikes erect, cylin- drical, 12 — 14 cm. long, 2 cm. in diameter (when in flower), of a squarrose appearance since the spathels, at first connate and ring-like, soon separate and are kept gaping by the' enlargement of the flowers ; spathels rigid, very sharply striately veined, with the veins converging to a broad obsolete point* Flowers in pairs at each spathel, one of which, a female, has the appearance of % i m I 96 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Z. confer to being a hermaphrodite, and the other of being neuter or else a male, both resting in a sort of bi Jocular, rather deep, thinly membranous, veined clothed on the angles with soft rufous wool. The j e male flower is cup, ovoid, acute, 7 — 8 mm long ; the calyx almost entirely parted into 3 lanceolate, sub- coriaceous, acute parts ; the corolla, one-third longer than the calyx, is parted nearly to the base into 3 ovate-triangular, acuminate, hard, coriaceous segments ; staminodes 6, of which 3 are adnate to the centre of the segments and 3 alternate with the first three rise from nearly the base of the corolla, all with a subulate filament and a distinct (sterile) anther ; ovary globose 3-celled * style very short and thick ; stigmas elongate, thickly trigonous, subulate, spreading* Neater flowers as long as the female, but narrower, trigonous, and acute ; the calyx splits into 3 oblong divisions, subcartilaginous and strongly striately-veined : the corolla coriaceous and with a basal solid entire part, divided above into 3 ovate-lanceolate, thick segments ; stamens 6 with thickish elongate filaments ; anthers ovoid or oblong-sagittate. The fruits are crowded into an irregular, formless mass, sometimes of considerable size ; the individual fruits are turbinate, more or less deformed by mutual pressure, slightly convex or flattish above, with a short small mucro in the centre ; when full grown 3"5 — 5 cm. long, 3 — i'o cm. in diameter in their uppermost part;, and thence gradually tapering to a rather" acute base ; scales, rv in about 24 vertical series, shiny, of a dirty yellowish straw colour when d rhomboidal, slightly produced into a bluntish appressed point, more or less deeply grooved along' the middle, especially in their posticous part ; th erose-denticulate. Seed solitary, completely filling the pericarpal cavity, and attached to its base ; its nucleus, is horizontally evolute e margins finely in the middle of a copious fleshy integument, and is considerably broader than high, almost reniform in a vertical section, but somewhat varying in outline according to the deformation un- dergone by the entire fruit ; when normally evolute the nucleus is discoid-suborbi- cular and depressed (in one specimen 22 mm. broad, and 10 mm. high); its surface, when divested of the integument, is chestnut-brown, quite smooth and shiny ; it has the chalazal forea or apical intrusion of the integument (which is narrow and deep in all the species of the Euzalacca section) broad and shallow, orbicular, 9 ram. in diameter and 3 mm. deep ; the integument is very abundant, pulpy, juicy, very acid and firmly adherent to the nucleus ; the albumen is homogeneous ; the embryo is placed exactly in the centre of the base. The cavity oE the peri- carp is lined by the very thinly membranous endocarp, -which has a silky surface, and shows the obsolete markings of the external vascular ramifications of the seed integument. The pericarp is, on the average, 3 mm. thick. Habitat. — The Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Rhio and Bangka. Griffith writes that this palm flourishes in very shady wet places in the great forests of Malacca, as at Ching and Katawan. Ridley gives the following localities, viz., Singapore — Tanglin, Bukit Timah, Bukit Mandai, etc.; Selangor — Kwala Lumpur; Perak ; Bindings; Lumut ; Rhio. He adds that it is very common in wet woods forming impene- It occurs also in Bangka at Blinju, if 4 have correctly trable thickets in water. identified some sterile specimens collected there by Graskojf ( 59 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). I have found this species in Borneo, at Kuching in Sarawak (P. B. No. 249.) X i • I Z. scorteckinii. ZALACCA. 9 t i The pulp, or integument of the seed, which is intensely acid, is eaten by the Malays. It receives the names of " Asam Paya " and " Kelubi " (Ridley). Griffith says that it is the '* Asam-Koombor " of Penang, and the * 4 Asam-pajah " of the Malays of Malacca. The same sagacious author adds : "I have not yet ascertained what distinction is indicated by the two Malayan names bestowed on this species, from which it is probable, at least s) experience tells me, that there are two distinct kinds, both presenting the same unusual sort of inflorescence, which is analogous to that of the genus Elaeis. " The i. Kelubi ", by Griffith supposed a separate species, may be that described here below, or perhaps the male plant. Observations. — Tt is a very distinct Pal in differing in some important characters from the typical Zalaccas, but especially in the fruit, which I have found constantly with only one seed, enveloped by a very copious integument, and having the nucleus discoid, horizontally evolute, and showing a broad and shallow apical chalazal fovea, instead of the usual narrow channel penetrating deeply into substance of the albumen. Further Z. conferta is characterized its lea ves regularly pinnate, having alternate, equidistant, straight, oUanceolate-ensiform. concolorous leaflets ; by the female spadices erect, rigid, short and dense, bearing glabrous, subsquarrose spikes ; by the densely aggregate turbinate fruits, having polished, deeply grooved scales with bluntish appressed tips. Most probably Z. co?ferta is (in the same way as the true Zalacca) a dioecious Palm, and its male plant is unknown. , Griffith writes : u That the spadices have polygamous spikes on different individuals " f but apparently he, like myself, had opportunity to dissect only female spadices, which appear polygamous, but most probably their male flowers (although apparently normally evolute), have only sterile anthers. If the male spadix had not (as is the general rule in all Zalaccas) two equal male flowers at each spathel, this (added to its other special characters) would be another good argument for considering Z. conferta as the representative of a distinct genus. Plate 60. — Zalacca conferta Griff. — Female spadix (in two halves) bearing spikes with not fully developed flowers ; detached spike with young fruits ; portion of the head formed by the mature fruits ; one fruit cut open vertically showing the solitary seed entire and in situ ; vertical section of the fruit cut through the seed ; half the pericarp, showing its cavity ; seeds cut vertically into halves. From P. B. No. 219 in Herb. B eccari. The fruits from specimens in alcohol. 13. Zalacca Scortechinii Becc. sp. n. Description. — Apparently a smaller plant than Z. conferta. Leaves having a subterete petiolar part, 1'5 m. long, 1 cm. thick (in one specimen), armed with few, distant, scattered, solitary, rigid spines, 10 — 15 mm. long, apparently only some of the lowest being confluent ; the rhachis, in its intermediate part, is bifaced ab ove, rounded below, where it is armed along the centre with a line of small. distant, ascendent prickles. Leaflets numerous, equidistant, 5 — 7 cm. apart on each side of the rhachis, green and dull on both surfaces, distinctly sigmoid, equally / i Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. 98 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. z. tech narrowing towards both ends, the base rather acute and considerably i n i . i * a ed th upper end falcately mi to a fine tip ; the main nerves or costae are 3 d but ii on the upper secondary nerves on each side of the mid mu interrupted, 2 — 3 mm. ma ddlo upward the i med turface ; there are 3 rather distinct ta ; transverse veinlets rather sharp, sparingly spinulous and only from the fruiting spadix is very leaflets are 45 cm. long 3 — 3*5 cm. wide. mu sma 8 — 11 cm. lone, 17 like that of Z. conferta. but smaller ; th pik m in d The le same. ti Z. conff The is apparently smalle a le nd * The are are 2*5 cm. in diameter d more regularly globose than in centre. The seed (not quite mature) is discoid in Z. conferta. the scales are very neatly grooved along the TJ pericarp seems thinner than P Habitat.— Collected by Father Scorteckini in the district of Per the precise locality not stated. in the Malay <) a spadix of whole fou only note w itl 1 -The d nearly of this new species is derive I i om a portion ma d among the Pal fruits accompanied by portions of a leaf ; the of S .. Uda T) in a separate parcel, little or no d which probably is the native bearing as the me that the fr of of the plant. I have a beloag to this plant, although the leaf d if accompanying the spadix d really ihe rhachis is broadly J on the upper face of its lower portion, has an obt prominent angle above and is mor or less d ous, very regularly broadly linear-ensii base with r< derneath eauidi d h with bristly spines. d iflets very numer- very regularly bifarious in one plane, straight, in, long-acuminate green on red both d to the rhachis by a rath oad face margins ; they are rigidly papyraceous or thinly coriaceous. but slightly paler on lower, not very conspicuously 3- cos- tulate, having the mid-costa very only d the robust and prominent, slightly spinulous, b d, and only on the upper surface, obtuse and completely devoid of scales or spinuies und the side-cosfae slender, completely smo or in the leaves of young*, plants slightly spinulous ; the med leaflets of full grown plants 1*2—1*5 m. ally smaller, more acuminate, 5-6*5 cm wide d those above b d 1 more d till the uppermost are only 30 40 cm the lowest are narrower, more approximate, and dist their axillas. Spadices axillary, several flowering at same with several incomplete, heathi the of which the outermost nctly callous at time, furnished are shorter gradually than the inner, flattened and d at their mouths, the innermost ded beyond th below. Male and female spadices are simil as ds their b jonsiderabh b d i sh than the leaves,. 1*6 9 the different aspect of the spikes ; m. long, and form large, flaccid, dependent panicles, divided into several, elongate, tail-like partial infl or spik e bearing bra the latter are 60 — 70 cm. long, h furnished at the base with a coriaceous spathe, shape 1 like an ass's ear, tubular in its lower % / 4 \ p.fil ans. PIGAFETTA. 101 \ portion, but unclosing d pread fu clothed with a fulvous above into a triangular acute limb terete, about 1 cm I open scurf ; the axial part of the L in d at the base, d d pathes are papyraceous, glabrous, smooth, fi heat Inner, obliauelv ai - b e is its d lunately excavate at the Bfcriately-veined, tubular, closely mou d the d a t one sid others g strongly j. ^ — „. into a triangulai-ciliolate point ; the lowest is 3*5-4 cm. long • the d smaller. d pedic Ma le d kes attached by a very d part to the bottom of their respective th nd more or less produced beyond these. Male spikes slender, flexuose, the lowest b on a ped part 6-7 cm. long (shorter in th than 1*5 mm which follow), not broad i am strongly-striate ; the flower b the spikes is 8-9 mm. in diameter (when portion of ered with fully developed fl 10-12 cm. long, in the spikes of the lower part of the branches, but only 7-8 in th of the apex. The axis of the spikes is slender, and after the fall of the flowers acquires a villose appearance from the persistent spathels, ch are d by sm memb veined bracteoles which suddenly attenuate to a subul spread having a broad b point, and are d at each ' side by b ft h the fl The male /?< hich replace the special b - of are very closely pack an d in pairs at each om cover the axis of the spikes, on which their insertion is by two very small, elongate, contiguous scars. ovoid, are obsoletely, trigonous, 3 — 3*5 mm Ion or > The flower-bud the calyx is thii obtuse 4"5 campanu teeth : eined d with 3, oft thel marked not regularly membranous. at the time of the anthesis th unequal, h fl mm., the calyx becomes aim inflat vers lengthen out to 4 or or o, corolla is twice as long as the calyx ; the portion nd usually splits open irregularly • th and d and is parted above into three cartilaginous nally finely striate segments. Stamens 6, d at the th I by the calyx is narrow cymbiform, acute, exter- filaments short, triangular and shortly united by their bases; anthe sagittate, rather acute, the cells opening laterally : rudimenta of the corolla ; th r iflxed Fe spikes thicker than the male ones, and similarly ovary obsolete d with a slender pedicellar part ; the fh appearance, 4 mm. in diame very not d 7—10 cm. long, terete, of a tbmentose th V flo The axis of th is lend d woody he spathels, which are inserted all kes small, br; completely m subulate. very similar to those of th d it, e male d by a pale yellowish tomentum, the spikes, are very and ab of tips \ it diat the flowers themsel w d are mos hairs Female fli & lob mm. in diameter at the time oE the d in a nest J ike cup, formed solitary ( i.e., unaccompanied by a neuter), small, th esis urceolate, its mouth truncate, th memb corolla deeply ted into 3 thickly memb ; the calyx cupular- strongly-veined-costulate ; the - striately ovate, their triangular points only ud ned segments, broadly well developed, h beyond the calyx. The I d roecium is large erect sagittate-acuminate anthers nearly as 1 one" as the segments of the corolla but sterile and membranous-hyaline ; the fil their \ broadened, connate bases, form a s by ow cup, d with 6 short triangular teeth ; ovary glob 1 wi th a few relatively large fimb I 102 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. P.fil cal es. unilocular from the incomplete d of the dissepiment very short ; stigmas thick, elongate-trigonous, Fruit 10-12 broadly sm m he w tie II thoroughly mat only ading ; ovules 3, b slightly longer than in oid d or befo fe miturity oE course smaller and bobovoid; it is always ded at b end style erect* broad, very but especially at the apex, where d series, very few in it is h series not mucronate ; seal e a 8 in 12-13 longi 6 only well formed), shiny, straw d, relatively large, rather / convex, channelled al the middl th a narrow dark-b finely erosely- or blackish ma line, their apices very obtuse, the margins toothed. The pericarp is very thin some what flattened 7-8 mm Ion cr 5-6 m m oad d f d an 5-1 f unequal from small depressions and straight rid^e ftdie See mm it is the crustaceous and b from the chalazal fovea but once fle integument), wh d I ellipsoid, thick ; its cleared of especially the latter deep, circular, d in the centre of the P h de alb equable ; embrvo in the centre of the fa opposite to the chalazal fovea. Fruiting perianth not accrescent, explanate, 5 mm. in d calyx splitting d to the base into 3 very broad, almost orb b veined lob ovate, and also striately the segments of: th d. It is one of the very corolla as long as the calyx, tallest of Palms. Habitat. — Celeb the Mol Ne G Indo-Ch It P more £ C than elsewhere. F North Celebes I h seems a ave seen specimens the Pro v. d b} r Warburg at B th e B Sa of Minahassa (No. 801 in Berlin H d de Herb W. B at Tomohon in (No. 18427B in / New G According , Plqafet t to Rumpli it grows also in C d Burn. In N is apparently a rather common plant. I d specimens of the male plant (P. papuana Becc.) at d Arfak, and Teij L. S. Gibbs at theretl the fruits in Pulo Roon (H k at the foot of Mt. Bogor.) and Miss. Its presence in Indo-China rests on soma loose fruits collected by 0. Kim ze in Cambodia. I rather id geographical d small innumerable fi are almost certainly some of the most Islands. f this Palm is probably due to its provided with a rather -scanty b n pulp, which d by birds for food, especially wild pigeons whicl are ffect agents of dissemination in the Pap and Mai I have based the d above i f plants d in the Botanical Garde f of the wild plants from Celeb an d N ew G mainly on specimens at Buitenzorg, » but the are quite identical with those of the d \ b I think there is only one species of Pig&ft as the fical d Metroxylon jilare and M. elatum indicated by Blume, Martius I Miquel seem to me obs and I have not th inner specimens of Pigafi d any d ami ned by me character amon The size an d f of its / c * P. filar is PIGAFKTTA 103 this fruits are very variable features depending upon the degree of maturation ; because the fleshy integument of the seed, which, as often happens in similar fruits of Lepidocaryeae, increases in volume in the last stage of maturity dilates the scaly pericarp. am 1 rr\ The calyx of the male flowers is always entire in the flowers before they open, but split into 3 parts afterwards, and offers no characters whereby P. elata can be distinguished from P. filaris. In the plate of Sagus filaris, Rumphia 128, the corpuscules which are shown on the midcosta on the lower surface of the leaflets, look like spinules, but I have never seen spinules or scales or paleoles on the lower surface of the leaflets in any of the numerous specimens of Pigafetta seen by me, whether considered as P. Jilaris or as P. elata. Miquel also describes (Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 149), but I think erroneously, the mid-cosra of the leaflets " subtus paleolis inspersa." On the upper surface the mid-costa of the leaflets is frequently spinulous towards the upper end, and in leaves of young plant s the side costse are spinulous also. I now regard P. papuana as quite ide with P. JU The figure in Martius iii, t. 102, said to represent the whole plant of Sagus elata, is another Palm, apparently an Arecinea. A good representation of Pigafetta has been given in the book of P. and Fr. Sarasin (Reisen in Celebes 1, p. 54). Plate 62. — Pigafetta filaris Becc. — The end of a leaf ; one of the branches of the male spadix ; the base of the petiole ; a very young spadix. From plants cultivated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Beccari). Plate 63.— Pigafetta filaris Becc. — Branch of the female spadix in flower ; fruiting branch ; intermediate leaflets from a young and very robust plant. From plants cultivated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Beccari). Spike with thoroughly mature fruits and seed, from Bojong in Celebes. Plate 63A. — Pigafetta filaris Becc. in the Botanic Garden at Buitenzorg. \ I / / / « 104 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA Korthalsia. KORTHALSIA Bl. Bl. Rumphia ii, 166, t. 130, f. 2 (Ceratolobus Blume ibid, iii, t. 197-157 B) • Mart. Hist. Xat. Palm, iii, 210, 343, t. 172, f. 1 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. and Prodr. Fl. Sam. 591 and I)e Pal Bat. iii, 7-4, 750 m. Arc. Ind. 15-26 ; Wain. Ann. iii. 492 i Becc. Malesia, ii, 62, t. V, VI, VII and 275 ; Benth. etd. Hook. Gen. PJ. iii, 932 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 474 ; Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii Kurz in Journ. Asiat. Soo. Beng. xviii, II (1874) , 206 t. XX A and • 214; Forest Fl. Brit. Burma, ii, 512. Calamosarjus Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. 6 and Palms Brit. Ind. 26, t. 175 and 180 c ; App. XIX. v * Climbing, terminal brai young plants eirriferous. gibbous above d 111011 hermaDiirod hed d panicle. L spinose palms, bearing a of the lower part of the stem or of non-cirri ferous, terminated by ij—sh a leaflet ; those of the adult plant elongate, more or less spinous, not flagelliferous not and grad £ th e mos petiole into a d rhomboidal. tr passing into the petioh, ocrea, frequently inflate i onged 1 ant- fa )nd th ouring, oidal or cuneate w ith rarely narrow and elongate, but always pluricostulate and more or less Leaflets several radiate nerves, more toothed or praemorse at the upper d an d d to the rhachis through a small padicellar part (ansa). Panicle composed of several spike-bearing branches, issuing from the heath of more or less I leaves ; the b are tubular spathes. S% ng only thed by several formed very approximate memb each eld hermaDhrodite 11 spathels, h more or less woolly or d th h panulate-eyathiform or cupular, more or less provided with bracteoles cers small ; the calyx cam- el ; the corolla longer than the Flo calyx, d the portion remaining de the calyx into 3 cartilaginous or thinly coriaceous segments, entire stamens with filaments ad i tubular or ventricose in its lower part ; to the undivided part of the corolla, forming sma 11 ring at it> i having a short, thick part ; anthers sh near the base, and having parallel cells, opening on the sides. O 3-locular or with rudimentary dissepiments, ovoid, prolong mcom ed thick conical style, d minated by 3 very elongate- mmu stigmas. O monospermous. the pericarp covered with im- 3, basilar, erect, anatropous. Fruit bricating scales. Seed erect, enveloped with a scanty fleshy or spongy integument ; the nucleus not pitted on the surface, but marked by a conspicuous lateral chalazal fovea, or a deep intrusion of the integument ; albumen homogeneous or emb lateral. I A very natural genus, easily recognizable, even in a sterile dit fl of various h >n, by the but alwavs special nature of its leaves, having, indeed, lei with several main nerves and with a more or less toothed or praemorse extremity and furnished with a small ped part or "ansa" A peculiar character of at th mou of th Korthalsia is also the great development of the appendage leaf-sheaths (the ocrea) which at times is transformed into a swollen and entire!) c ed b organ or d of a constant fo rm for every species i Korthalsia. KORTHALSIA. 105 (A', scaphigera, scaphigeroides, Echinometra, horrida, Gheb, angustifolia, Scortech Regarding the biology of Korthalsi I refer the reader to my article on th -. P d ospitatrici "' (Malesia, ii ) not form an entirely P H2). In K. robust a and AT. macroearpa^ the ed dwelling fo ocreae large cornets embracing the base of the sheath c% ants ledia but take the shape of b d at times attaining the extraordinary length of 30 to 40 em. In most species, however. the ocreae are cylindrical, closely sheathing, and often partially d a fib net. The form and peculiarities of the ocrea afford the best characters by which to dist nature, origin, an but ingiiish the species, even if Mowers and fruit be wanting. The d function of the ant-harbouring organs, not only in Korthalsia, in numerous other myrmecophilous Hydnophyth been much discussed. d most of all, in Jfyrmecodi egard to this subject I reta and my old opinion that, such organs are now ed but that they owed their origin to the effe of the stimulus exerted by ants on certain organs of the plants. of which the tissues were capable of a reactive I of the plasmation Epouh, when heredity had not yet power during the re i n ot i conservative power Beccari ti Wande in PP 36, 209 and seq.)- The Korthalsias have b the G l for a F Ion Merrillii appears Celebes elf seemin K la is hap # th mos same time the most northerly widely dispersed species, attaining at the serim ; otherwise th tude, having been found near Salween in T genus is entirely absent from the true Ind laciniosa is also a common plant in the Andamans and Nicob Fl ra. A' and A in d ably it ds into lo Me coast palm, a circumst geographical distribute Indo-China ; it is apparently a sea- /< and K. Teysmannii in th e to which we may attribute, perhaps, its relatively wide and the presence of its very closely allied b species K countries. / § / Korthalsia. KORTHALSIA. 10 i Korthalsia Zippelii, widely spread all over New Guinea, and growing also in the Aru Islands, is the only representative of the genus Korthalsia found, as yet, to the eastward oE Celebes. \ KORTHALSIA. Key to the species. A I. • a. • Korthalsia. • S | ce a V H Mergui Archi • s CS a OS 1 < • E 1 eS O o 2 | - I 0! - > 1 * 1 a I i co • - a 00 as M 3 G e o s > i a o ♦ ■ B 6 • • X s a a E 03 i 55 • < 1. K. scaphigera Mart. • • • • • + 4- + 4- • • • ••* • • • • • • 4- • •• • •a ••• aaft 2. K. scaphigeroides Becc. ... •ft ■ • •• 3. K. Eehinometra Becc. ••• •■ ••• • • + + 4- 1 4- • •• • •• • •• • •• • «• ••• 4. K. horrida Hecc. 5. K. Cheb Becc. + • •• ••• • • • •* + • • •• • • •• •• • •• • • • • •« • aft • a . • •• • aa 6. K. Bcorteohiaii Becc. 4- • • • «•• m mm IM 7. K- angustifolia BU 4- MS • a* • •• • a* 8. K. furcata Becc. % — • •• •* ■ 4- • . • *•• • •a • •• 9. K. piucijuga Becc, M ••• . . ••• + 4- • • - • •• • ft» • •« aaa 10. K. debilis BU 11. K. rigida BL + : + • • •• ■ • • • ■• • a. 1 * 1 • • ■ • • • • a • • •• 12. K. Junghuhuii Miq> • ■ • ■ • • • •• ••• ■ •• 4- • a a ... 13. K. MerrilUi 5n. arnpnsis i J5fC0. + ••• • a • • *• ... 24. K. robusta BL i + «• • aa a • •• ■■• 23. K. macrocarpa Bete, . • . - . r • •• 4- • «• «•• 26. K. squarrosa Becc, I • •• •• i ; 1 . - Spikes amentiforn having very closely packed and appressed spathels. — Ocrea inflated. * Leaves pinnate with several leaflets. f Leaflets cuneately rhomboidal. Ocrea small, armed with very short spines Ocrea oblong or ovate, not more than twic as long as broad Leaflets whitish underneath or only paler below than above. / K scaphigera Mart.— Malay Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo. Peninsula. Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, XII i 108 V ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA Korthalsia* Ocrea elongat* — elliptical, two or three times longer than broad. Leaflets conspicuously mealy* white underneath. 2. K. scaphigeroides Becc. — Philippines. ft Leaflets elongate narrowing at apex. Ocrea large, elliptical, armed \\ rith verv Ion w e r buds when ready to open, are oblong, obtuse, a little attenuate at the base, subterete or very obsoletely trigonous, 5'5 mm. lorn:, and 3 mm. broad their upper part, and half exserted from the tomentum ; the calyx very small and short, 1 mm. high, membranous-hyaline, divided down to the middle into 3 broad, obtuse lobes ; the corolla several times longer than the calyx, divided in its upper two- thirds into 3 oblong, cartilaginous, finely striately veined segments, entire, campa- nulate and embracing the ovary in its lower part. Stamens 6 ; the filaments connate below with the undivided part of the corolla, and having only a short • thickish free part at the throat ; the anthers basifixed, elongate equally narrowing towards both ends, very shortly disjointed at the base, having a rather broad connective, and the cells laterally dehiscent. Ovary oblong, attenuate to a conspi- 3 cuous conicalljr elongate style, slightly shorter than the stamens, terminated connivent subulate stigmas. Fruit ovoid-elliptical or slightly obovoid, suddenly and finely apiculate or mucronate, and pungent at apex, 15-16 mm. long, J. 0-11 mm. broad jroaa ; on the whole the pericarp is thin and brittle ; the mesocarp is scantily of a uniform light cinnamon- fleshy ; the scales are in 15 longitudinal series, thin, brown colour, at times very narrowly reddish or discoloured on the edges, almost dull, about as long as broad, regularly convex, slightly furrowed along the centre, ■ the margins minutely erose-ciliate, the point short and obtuse. Seed erect, ovoid- elliptical, terete, equally rounded at both ends, 9 mm. long, 7 mm. broad ; its surface even (not pitted), but marked by 6 slightly impressed longitudinal veins ; the hilum basal ; the albumen deeply ruminate, with, on the chalazal side, a deep globular intrusion of the integument ; the embryo relatively large, penetrating the third part o£ the entire seed, placed in the middle of the side opposite to the intrusion of the integument. Habitat. — -Rather common in the primeval forests of the Malay Peninsula, of Sumatra, and Borneo. In Singapore ; Garden Jungle (Bidley No. 9-17) and Bukit Timah (Ridley No. 6272 — specimen in fruit). Malacca; (Griff.), Sungei I dang (Good enough No. 1704 — with flowers). Perak ( IVray No. 1917 and Kings Collector Nos. 8144, 3503, 5047, 3504, 3126. 3722, 6833, and Scortechini in Herb. Becc). Sumatra: Sungei bulu, Prov. Padang (Becc. PL Sum. No. 893) ; Palembang (Heyne No. 22 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). Borneo : Sarawak on Mt. Mattang (Becc. P. B. No. 1916) \ Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. \ t 114 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. SC(lJ)h and on Mt. Poe (Becc. P. B. No. 2443), Pontianak (Fleyne No. 2535 in Buitenzorg Herbarium)- Bandjermasing (Buitenzorg Herbarium 13). Ridley writes that the Rattan of this Korthalsia. known under the name of fct Rotang Sumut" (or the Ant-Rattan) is valued on account of its small size and strength. In Sarawak, however, the Rattan is considered of bad quality and receives the name o I .. Rotang Undang. OBSERVATIONS. — This is one of the characteristic myrmecophilous or Ant-harbour- ing Korthalsias, and its inflated ocreas a species of Camponotus in Borneo, and the Iridomyrmex kospes in Sumatra, make their abode, penetrating inside through holes, made by the ants themselves, in the wall of the ocrea, or on their margins (see Beceari, Malesia, ii, p. 63, 68). means of erosions K. scaphigera is characterized by its slender stem the leafsheaths having small but well formed elliptical inflate ocreae, more or less armed with short conical or tuberculiform prickles ; by the leaves having few cuneate leaflets, more or less giaucescent beneath, and only those of the uppermost leaves ansate, the others attached to the rachis by means of an acute base, having a callosity (or nectariferous cushion ?) in the axillas ; by the tomentose spikes ; by the ovoid, mucronate and pungent fruit, and It is a bl plant. Perak the l'uminated seed. * The sheathed stem in a specimen of Sco f 17 mm. in d in one from Palemb ;> mm. The leaves vary in the size and shape of th e Sumatra leaflets only mor or less elongate or even rhomboidal. The dimension taken from Ridley's No. 6272. In King's Collect of the fruit given above are N f r u i t diair is s id era d th larger, measuring 22-25 mm m 3503 length om k th seed is 15 mm structure is the same as in the other. and 17 mm. in long and 11 mm. across ; otherwise the Pl ATi- leaf; the collected 61 K or thai -mediate scaphigera Mart. — P of the stem d part m Pe iV (H of the plant from one of Scortechini an entire specimens W partial inflorescence, b d flower bud spikes with fully From Goolenough's No. 1704 in Herb. Beceari. / Plate 65. — -Korthalsia scaphigera Mrrt. — An almost entire fruiting panicle and the upper part of an adult plant. From Ridley's No. 6272 in Herb. Beceari. Plate 66. — Korthalsia scaphigera Mart. — Portion of the stem with an entire King's Collector leaf from the upper part of the plant, and a branch of the fruiting spadix ; very voung plant with primordial leaves. From Beceari P. B. No. 2-193. Fruits and seeds, one seed cut longitudinally through the embryo ; from No. 3503. See also the analytical plate IV, figs. 9-15 representing the analyses of the flower and fruit of K. scaphigera Mart. 4 2 Korthalsia scaphigeroidks Becc. Notes on Philip. Palms II, in Philip. Toirrn. Science, Botany, iv, (1900) 619. % ! K. echuiometra KORTHALSIA. * 115 "*K ■ Description. — Slender. Sheathed stem 15-20 mm. in diameter. Leaf-skeaths armed with short conical prickles. Oc tl -ell bl un h or apiculate, 7 to 10 cm long. 15-25 mm. broad i b and lied d d with short or cymbiform, ?id-papyraceous, il semi-conical h prickles. Leaves of young plants non-eirriftrous, ending in a haUdlate ed leaflet, and having the side-leaflets obsoletely or very fly ansate ; the leaves of adult plants are cirriferous,~ have the petiole fl more cm. long, obt usually sm on the I the centre, with a few solitary claw "s > rhacbis in its armed media t vex. 20 or eath. alonar portion d almost regularly with ternate claws. Leaf, s fe 4-5 on each side of the rhach broad alternate or subopposite, distinctly ansate, narrowly rhomboidal above their dentate ddl in acumm thei point, green abi r *, 15-20 cm. long, 4-5 cm. upper margins, anil produced broad, rather acutely at the apex into an m d having 7 primary co.-tae. Sp IX unk n own. \ Habitat. — Mindanao ; District of Zamboanga (Herb. For. Jiur. Manila No. 48U1 ; Hutchinson, July, 1906), Nat. name languguid Agusan River, Butuan subprov. (Merrill No. 7313, Oct. 1910). Basilan Island (Hutchinson, No. 6106, Aug. 1906). Observations. — This is to all appearances the representative form in the Philippines of K. scaphigera, from svhich it differs in the much more elongate ant-harbouring ocreas, and in the leaves having the leaflets conspicuously mealy- white underneath. The ocreae in the Herbarium specimens show clear evidence of their having been inhabited by ants, for as in K. scaphigera, they have a round hole or gate in their upper parts, and several narrow fissures at several points, probably for the admission of air into the lodging. Plate 67. — Korthalsia scaphigeroides Be cc. One non -cirri f erous leaf, and another cirrif erous from the upper part of the plant. From Merrill's No. 7313 in Herb. Beccari. 3. Korthalsia Echinometra Becc. Malesia, ii, 66 and 276 ; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 474 ; Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins. ii, 215. K. angustifolia fi gracilis Miq. De Palm. Arc. Ind. 16 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 70, 276. Daenionorops ochreatus Teysm. et Binn. Cat. Hort. Bot. Bog. (1866), 74, (nomen). Calamus (sect. Daemonorops) ochreatus Miq. De Palm Arc. Ind. 29 (nomen). Description. — High scandent and rather slender. Sheathed stem, 12 — 20 mm. in diameter the ed canes have a dull fa Leaves elongate, those of the upper part of full grown plants about 1 in. long in the pinnif erous part, and terminated by a clawed cirrus about as less partially covered with a tobacco cc long or longer. Leaf-sheaths short, mor d scurf, almost entirely rapped by thei r ocreae, d in their short upper fr part mor or les s spinous. conspicuously inflate-eymbiform or elliptical, more or less elongate, at nnes reae 'oid. *a Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. % r / 116 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. \_K. echl'nometra. blunt, 10 — 15 cm. long and furnished with a short, terete, closely sheathing pedicelliform base ; the inflated part thinly coriaceous, partially scurfy or glabrescent, armed all round with spreading, scattered, very slender, and very sharp, elastic, laminar, blackish, glossy spines, 3 — 8 cm. long. Petiole flattened- biconvex, elongate, prickly on the edges. Rhachis armed in its lower part with single, and upwards with 2-3-nate claws. Leaflets numerous, 12 — 15 on each side of the rhachis, opposite or alternate, conspicuously discolourous. white beneath, 3 — 4 costulate, elongate, linear-lanceolate, narrowing above, acute at the base and n^t ansate ; some of them have the apex toothed, the teeth being narrow, very acute, and aristate ; others are very acuminate and have the apex often indented, es- pecially on its lower margin ; transverse veinlets very sharp ; main costae smooth or occasionally sparingly spinulous above ; the intermediate leaflets |are 30—35 cm. long and 15 — 25 mm. broad, the upper ones gradually smaller. Spadix much branched and diffuse ; the branches robust, arched ; spathes cylindrical, closely sheathing, smooth, obliquely truncate at the mouth, and produced at one side into a triangu- lar acute point. Spikes cylindrical, usually 15-20 cm. long, 12 mm. in diameter ; the spathels are suborbicular, concave, strongly striately veined in the covered part i and have their obtuse roundish point briefly exerted from the wool of the flower bracteoles ; the latter have a very small limb completely hidden by an abundant wool. Flowers small, 8 mm. long ; the calyx very small 3-lobed ; the corolla has the petals oblong, obtuse, deciduous. Fruit broadly ovoid from a rounded base, conically and very acutely beaked, 13 — 14 mm. long, 1 cm. broad (immature) squarrose ; the scales are in about 20 longitudinal series, uniformly cinnamon- brown, flattish, not furrowed along the centre, margins and tips coarsely erose- toothed or sublacerate. Seed too young in the specimen seen by me to make certain of the nature of its albumen. Habitat. — A rather common palm, growing in the Malay Peninsula, in Borneo, Sumatra, and Bangka. In the Malay Peninsula : Negri Sembilan (Ridley) ; Perak (Scortechini No. 458b in Herb. Becc.) ; Singapore {Ridley No. 3521),, Borneo : in Sarawak on Mt. Mattang {Becc. P. B. No. 1935) ; on the Barram River (J. Hewitt in the Herbaria at Kew and Manila — fruiting specimens) ; Bandjermasin (Collector ♦ of the Buitenzorg Garden No. 21). Sumatra : in the Residency of Palembang at Komering Ulu (Grasho# No. 572) and at Lematang ulu (Grashoff No. 197 — fruiting specimens in Herb. Buitenzorg and Beccari). In Bangka at Klinju (Grashoff in Herb. Buitenzorg and Beccari). Native name "in Singapore " Rotang Udan," in Perak "Rotang Sumut " (Scortechini), in Palembang " Uri udang " or "Uri Semot " (Grashoff). In Sarawak the Dyaks name for it is " Rotang Rua " and it is employed for the same purposes as " R. Cheb." Observations. — A very conspicuous and easily recognizable species on account 9 of its large inflated ocreae, armed with very long spreading slender spines, and of the leaves having numerous narrow discolourous leaflets. The specimens from Borneo have the leaflets with the main nerves smooth whereas in the specimens from Sumatra the same nerves are more or 1 spinulous. The Sumatran specimens have also the ocreae armed with short more slender and less numerous spines. ess er. I \ \ iST. horrida]. KOKTHALS1A. 117 In d th peoimen from a plant name of Daemonorons och d in the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg, i Tevsm. the ocreae are very large, ovate. much inflated (4 cm. wide) and powerfully ed, but this cimen apparently was detached om the ppermost part of the d bel terminal inflorescence, where, as in other the ocreae are larger the ind b tif< than elsewhere. There is scarcely any d as to the identity of K. fi Miq. pecimens collected by De \ th A: Ech ) in Palemb was described from sterile V Sumatra), vernacular name w B Pla 68.— Korthal Echinometra Becc. — Intermediate portion of a plant showing two ocreae and a detached portion of the leaf belonging to it ; f P B. No. 1935. Leal-sheath and its ocrea and f from S X 4 to b in Herb. B BuitenzorfiT A separate ocrea, larger than usual, from a plant cultivated at d the name of Dae ch Plate 69. — Korthalsia Echinometra Becc. — Leaf and branch of the spadix with fruits not quite mature. From Hewitt's specimens in the Herbarium at Kew. 4? Korthalsia horrida Becc. Malesia, ii. 66 t. VI. Description. — Rather slender. Sheathed stem 2 cm. in diameter. Leaves rather large ; one — apparently from a nearly fully grown but not yet fertile plant is non-cirrifeious, and 1*80 m. long. Leaf-sheaths, in their upper uncovered part and immediately below the insertion of the petiole, fugaciously and partially rusty furfuraceous and armed with straight, rigid, horizontal, 5-8 mm. long spines ; on the sides the spines are flattened and ascendant ; on the ventral side the leaf-sheaths are disintegrated into a fibrous net, but otherwise completely enveloped by their respective ocreae. Ocreae considerably inflated, 15 cm. long, 3 cm. papery-membranous texture, cymbiform or elongate-elliptical, broad, of a thin or armed all round with scattered, very slender and very sharp, elastic, laminar, blackish spines, up to 12 cm. long, resting on a broad base, and spreading in every direction. Petiole thickish, slightly flattened, in one specimen 60 cm. long, 8-9 mm. thick, armed all round with short, straight prickles ; rhachis trigonous, slightly clawed below ; the cirrus reduced to a very slender filament. Leaflets very numerous, 32 in ail in one specimen, subopposite or alternate, elongate- lanceolate or lanceolate-ensiform, very gradually long-acuminate, rigid-papyraceous, very conspicuously discolourous, being deep green above and white beneath, plicately 4-5-nerved ; the main nerves spinulous on the upper surface ; the lower margin of the apical part also spinulous ; transverse veinlets very sharp on the upper surface ; the medial and largest leaflets about 50 the upper ones gradually smaller and considerably shorter. The spadix unknown. * Habitat. — Borneo. Known only from a specimen collected by me in June 1866 on Alt. Mattang in Sarawak (P. B. No. 1918). Native name u Rotang Sabakan." cm. long, 3-5 cm. broad ; Observations. — This also is known only from sterile specimens, but possibly represents only a young stage of K. Echinometra ; as the only leaf preserved belongs apparently to a not full grown plant. The ocreae are very much like those of K. Echinometra but of a thinner texture and the leaves have larger and more acuminate leaflets, with the main nerves abundantly spinulous on their upper i ** + v 118 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. scortechinii. / surface, a character which I suppose! peculiar to K. horrida, whereas I ha now found that it is occasionally possessed also by K. Echinometra. ve Plate 70. — Korthalsia horrida Becc. — The entire typical specimen P. B. Xo. 1918 in Herb. Beccari. 5. Korthalsia Cheb Becc. Maleaia, ii, 67. Description. — Of middling size. Sheathed stem 1*5-2 cm. in diameter. Leave? large, 2'5 m. long including the cirrus. Leaf-sheaths completely enwrapped by the ocreae, except along a narrow strip on the back, which is armed with a line of rather stout, 8-10 mm. long, straight horizontal -pines. Ocreae very large, sur- passing sheathing in their basal part, for an extent of about in length the sheaths they enwrap, 28 cm. long in one specimen, closely 5 cm disintegrated along cylindrical, and the ventral side into a fibrous net ; in all the other specimens th the ocreae are somewhat inflated, cylindrically cymbiform, 2'5 cm. broad. In ave V apices obtuse, are so thickly coriaceous as to be almost woody, glabrous, almost polished and armed only with a few scattered broad-based horizontal prickles. The petiole is about 30 cm. long (in one leaf), flattened, armed on the edges with distant horizontal spines, and below with some solitary claws. The pinniferous part its rhachis trigonous, partially and fugaciously furfuraceous, long ; is about 80 cm. armed below with claws, at first single, then geminate and finally ternate. The cirrus is rather irregularly clawed. Leaflets 6 on each side (in one leaf), obliquely elongately- rhomboidal with a cuneate base, briefly ansate, with apices acute or shortly caudi- culate, papyraceous, green and rather dull above, conspicuously chalky-white beneath ; the upper margins sinuously not deeply toothed, the teeth acute or occasionally subarietate ; the largest leaflets, the intermediate, are 30-40 cm. long, and 10-15 cm. broad ; those of the extremities somewhat smaller. Spadix unknown. Habitat. — Borneo : in Sarawak on Mount Mattang {Becc. P. B. Xo. has been collected again 1936). It Dr. Ilallier in Dutch Borneo on the Sungei Kenepai (No. 2019 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). O — Imperfectly known, nevertheless very 'distinct f the other species by its not very inflated but extraordinarily elongate d very d ocreae. It approaches K if but this has much narrower leaflets d ocreae with th walls. The specimens d by H are somewhat smaller than the type specimen of tl om Sarawak, but otherwise very similar in the leaves io ocreae. O n E m H pecime 14 cm. long, and 1 nature ii. broad. The sheathed stem 1 5 mm. in d In Sarawak it receives the name of " Rotan Cheb," and the canes are much valued by the Dyaks ; the strips obtained from them, being very strong, are used especially for basket work and on account of their fastening axe heads to their handles. extraordinary toughness for * Plate 71. — Korthalsia Cheb Becc. — The type specimen in Herb. Beccari. 4 6. Korthalsia Scortechinii Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 475. Description. — Rather slender. Sheathed stem. 12-17 mm. in diameter. Leaves rather lar^e, one cirriferous is about 45-60 cm. long in the pinniferous part. § <**• • « ♦ A', a ng ust (folia KOKTHALSU 119 t ii • 70 (excL K. Jiagel- \ D Of moderate (or relatively large size. thd stem 25 cm. d in (or probably more in full grown plants). Leaf-sheath ciously rusty— furfuraceous d some hat whitish pruinose, armed thinly and fuga- th r d on their b and scantily on the ventral aspect, with 3-10 mm long. Ocre ?ae inflated, not very thickly coriaceous, or fusiform narrowing above to a bl ed straight spines, elongate-cymbiform broad, also slightly pruinose coriaceous, very sparingly arn apex, 15-20 cm. long, 2-2*5 cm d fugaciously scantily fu ed with a few short spines. The leaves of th plants are describe! by Bl um as fe m. Ion a nclud the d b 2 '5-4 cm. shiny above. 15-18 wide, and cc tfi th obi; latte r are d thinly e adult cirrus, ansate, 20-30 cm. long, very acuminate, 7 d almost ed beneath with a thin coating of yellowish-white or almost chalky indumentum; the upper margins are sharply toothed, and th subulate aristate. The leaves of young plants are non-cirriferous, and end in a flabellat fl J the largest of these leaves seen by me meas 1-5-1-8 m d th e \ * i / ? 120 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. furcata. petiole, and has 10-11 leaflets on each side ; the petiole is elongate and thickish, about 1 cm. broad,' flattish above, angular-convex below, with obtuse edges, and is ed on its upper surface and on the back, especially in its lower portion, with arm small prickles. The leaflets are as described above, but somewhat larger, attaining and 8-9 cm. in breadth. In very young plants, which how- 30-40 cm. in length ever also show the characteristic ocrea, the leaves have a petiole up to 70 cm. in length, very prickly all round, with very few leaflets on each side of the rhachis and a rather large terminal flabellum. Spadix unknown. Habitat. — South Borneo. The original specimen, upon which Blume founded the species, was collected on the Dusson by Ko It has been found again recently at Bandjermasin by the collectors of the Botanical Garden $f Buitenzorg (No. 48 in the Herb of Buitenzorg and Beccari). STATIONS. — It is a very imperfect! zed by its large, very elongate, kn not species • but hel well very thickly coriaceous, sparingly prickly ocreae, and by the cuneately oblanceolate leaflets, chalky-yellowish beneath and are having all stei very sharply le. and bear m a r Ti spscimens I r non-cirri ferous leaves, but d d from Buit conspecific with the type of Blume, which I have seen. The variety gracilis Miq. ol ? K. anjustifolia Bl. is referable to K. echinometra Becc. (See observations on that species.) Platk 73. — Korthalsia angustifolia Becc. — Leaf-sheath with its ocrea, and the base of a leaf ; portion of a leaf near the end. Specimen from a young plant with non- cirriferous leaves, in Herb. Beccari (No. 48 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). 8. Korthalsia furcata. — Beoc. sp. n. Description. — Very small. The naked stem is only 2 mm, in diameter and 5-f> mm. with the sheaths on. Leaf-sheaths very short, the leaves being very approximate and gradually passing into the petiole, polished, thickish on their backs where they are furnished with some short spines, or at timers quite smooth, and disintegrated along the ventral aspect into a fibrous net. Ocreae relatively to the size of the plant conspicuous, inflated, ovate-elliptical or oblong, very similar to those of JT. scaphigera, 20 — 25 mm. long, 8-10 mm. broad, smooth or furnished with some spinules near the acute apex. Leaves ' small, ou the whole 30-40 cm. long ; the blade is very simple, very deeply forked with a cuneate acute base, or formed only of two segments, united to the extent of 2-4 cm. at their bases, and separating at a very acute angle, so as to leave between them a deep and narrow V shape 1 sinus ; from the sinus springs a fine filament or rudimentary cirrus, at times up to 10-12 cm. in length, and finely acuieolate ; the segments of the blade almost all of a uniform breadth of 18-25 mm. and 25-30 are broadly linear or cm. in length, sharply 3-5-costulate, distinctly discolourous, green and shiny above, ashy gray beneath, very slightly attenuate towards the apex, which is nearly truncate, irregularly and boldly toothed, the teeth being rather obtuse, and fine decreasing in steps along the outer margin the transverse veiniets are very and distinct on the upper surface and almost obsolete on the lower. The petiole / I A", paucijuga. KORTHALSIA. 121 is slender, 5-10 cm. long, 2 mm. broad, polished, subtrigonous, flat above, armed with a few small claws and obsoletely angular below. In the Herbarium speci- mens the leaves acquire a chestnut-brown colour. Spadix unknown. Latin Diagnosis. — Korthalsia furcata Becc. sp. nov. / % Habitat. — Discovered by Dr. Hallier on Sungei Kenepai during the Dutch Expedition in Borneo, 1893-94 (No. 2034 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). Observations, — The specimens from which the description of this quite distinct little Korthalsia is derived consist of the upper parts of plants not in flower, and apparently not quite fully grown, but which however have, seemingly, attained their definitive characters. The forked leaves which in other species (in K. scaphigera for instance) are produced only in the primordial stage of the plant, are apparently in K. furcata definitive, an I afforl a diagnostic character unique among all the Korthalsias known up to the present day, that is if in the last and flowering period pinnate and cirriferous leaves are not produced. Plate 74. — Korthalsia furcata Becc. — The entire upper part of a plant ; a detached leaf ; (from Hallier's No. 2034 in the Buitenzorg Herbarium). Parvula, caudice tenuissimo ; vaginis brevibus laevibus vel parcissime spinosis, ocrea inflata ovato-elliptica ; frondibus brevissimis, petiolo gracili, limbo simpliciter profunde furcato, sive segmentis duobus basi unitis late linearibus, 3-9-costulatis composite * 9. Korthalsia paucijuga Becc. sp. n. I Description. — Slender. Sheathed stem 8-10 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths slightly and fugaciously rusty-furfuraceous, armed only along a narrow ventral line, with a few small straight spines, otherwise smooth. Ocreae short. 10-15 mm. long, closely sheathing, smooth or very sparingly prickly, truncate, coriaceous at the b an d th me ged d habl in th ir upper part. Leaves small, 18 — 28 cm. long in the pinniferous part, having only a on each side of the rh and end in a very d very minutely clawed cirrus. Petiol very hort distinctly callose at its axilla, 10-25 mm. long at most ; the rhachis rusty-furfuraceous, especially in its lower part, d d with few relatively strong claws. Leaflets alternate, rigid-papyraceous, glossy above, sub con- col on rous but dull belo more or less fer powdery at their basal part d besprinkled all over with very mmu ferruginous dots, visible only d er a good lens ; in shape the leaflets are cuneatel# or homboidal are very irregularly and boldly and obtusely sinuate-toothed on their upper margins and have the apex prolonged into a lengthened acumen ; the sides below the toothed part are slightly curved in converging to the base, and not quite straight, as is usually in other -species, in K. rigida for instance, which the leaflets of K. paucijuga in other respect resemble ; the main nerves are 5, but usually only 3 are distinctly prominent ; transverse veinlets very numerous, approxi- mate, fine, and. as in allied species pellucid ; in every leaf the lower pair of i Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. * 122 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. debilis. leaflets are 15-22 cm. long, and 4-5*5 cm wid sm 10—1 5 cm. long and 3-45 cm. broad th the upper ones are so > ansae are 6-10 mm. iwhat long, fu some hat fl callose in their axillas. $2; unknown. Habitat. — Dutch Borneo. First collected by Teysmann (No. 16714 in Buitenzorg Herbarium), who gives the native name " Djelundengan." Found again recently by Heyne at Bandjermasin (No. 24 bis in Buitenzorg Herbarium) and at Pon- tianak (No. 2544 in Buitenzorg Herbarium). Observations. — It is a slender palm, somewhat resembling K. rigida, from which it is easily distinguishable by the short ocreae, perishable in their upper part, but not forming a fibrous net ; by its short leaves having very short petioles^ and only 6 leaflets in all ; by the leaflets being rather distinctly 3-costulate, and having the sides in the cuneate lower part slightly curved in converging towards the base, and not, as usual, quite straight ; they are also, more distinctly than in other species, dotted below. Probably the specimens of K. rigida mentioned by Blume (I.e.), as collected by Korthals in Borneo belong to K. paucijuga. Plate 75. — Korthalsia paucijuga Becc. The terminal part of a plant. From Hey ne's No. 24 bis in Buitenzorg Herbarium. Latin Diagnosis. — Korthalsia paucijuga Becc. sp. nov. — Gracilis ; vaginis fugacite r furfuraceo-rubiginosis, parce in ventre spinulosis ; ocrea brevi, marcescenti ; frondibus par vis, brevissime petiolatis, segmentis perpaucis, breviter ansatis, oblongo-cuneatis, apice acuruinato-caudato, 3-costulatis, superne virentibus et nitentibus, subtus pallidioribus et squamulis punctiformibus minutissimis ferrugineis obsitis. \ * 10. Korthalsia debilis Bl. Rumphia, ii, 169 et iii, t. 157 B ? A ? Mart. Hist Nat. Palm, iii, 211 ; Miq. Fi. Ind. Bat. iii, 75, and Prodr. Fl. Sum. 255, and De Palm. Arc. Ind. 26 ; Walp. Ann. iii \ 4\)2 ; Hassk. Cat, Hort. Hot. Bogor, 1866, s 73 ; Becc. Maleeiaj ii, 70. Dkscription. — Very slender. Sheathed stem 5-10 mm. in diameter, the cane with a dull (non-vitreous) surface. Leaf-sheaths elongate, fugaciously and partially rusty-furfuraceous, usually sparingly, yet at times rather thickly, armed with very short tuberculiform spines or quite smooth, coriaceous, but of a flabby structure along the ventral or outer aspect, especially s in their upper part where usually disintegrated into a fibrous net. Ocreae 3-8 cm. long on the whole, more or less armed with short ascendant prickles, or otherwise smooth, closely sheathing, but having a short permanent coriaceous base, and thinly membranous an d more or less disintegrated into a fibrous, finally deciduous net in the remainder. Interme_ diate leaves 30-35 cm. long in the pinniferous part, ending in a cirrus about as long very slender * and very minutely clawed. Petiole short, or longer in leaves of 2-3 cm. long young plants, flattish or slightly concave above, rounded below. Khachis armed with scattered, small claws. Leaflets 4-5 on each side of the rhachis, alternate, papyraceous, whitish beneath, especially when young > i' 5-18 cm. long, 4-6 cm. broad, cuneate-rhomboidal, or triangular above the middle or in their upper third part, and gradually cuneate below ; their upper « K. debilis. KORTHALSIA. 123 ♦ ma ma dul at o d prae morse-toothed ; the apex usually produced and dat nerves 6-7, slender, the central one slightly stronger than the others ; transverse veinlets very fine ; ansae strongly flattened, 5-6 mm. long. The lower leaves have longer petioles, and apparently a few more leaflets. The leaves nea r reduced in length, and have considerably smaller t\ fl are much fl ifi narrowly panieled, about 30 cm. long, f ew d d branches, be very few erect spik posed of a very spathes tubular, narrowly infundibular, closely sh smooth or very slightly spinulous, produced above to a broad memb acuminate limb b the base of the d finally mar Spikes d er. 11 10 — 15 cm be th flowers 10 mm. in diameter but only 5-6 mm when long, an thout tin d of a somewhat tomentose appearance ; spathels concave, broad tha n often connate by their de striately ed, their upper margi r ded spikes when l, and long and ciliolate, and slightly produced above the der light coloured wool to which the floral bracteoles are almost entirely reduced. Flowers above, 4 mm. long, 2'5 mm. broad ; the calyx nearly half clavate-oblong, r (i of the b obt dee lobe exserted from the wool thinly cartilaginous, urceolate, deeply parted downwards into 3 ovate- polished externally ; the corolla nearly 3 times as long as the calyx, divided into 3 cartilaginous segments, fai striately ned externally, contracted at the throat, entire and slightly ventricose in its lower part ; the stamens have very short nd fil ted at the throat of the corolla, dly lanceolate-sagittate, acute anthers ; ovary and bro* short, conical, sulcate, acute style, stigmas very minute, punctiform. ■I narrowing above to a h only to the b of the the F small, globular, 10-11 mm. in d r rounded at both ends, shortly but acutely beaked at apex ; the pericarp on the whole thin and brittle ; mes very sparingly fleshy ; scales in 17-18 ud series, slightly convex, not deeply ed along the centre, reddish brown » the apex obt d black apex conspicuously ciliate d slightly produc •ed. Seed globula the ma 6 / mm. in diamet and especially the )i\ its surface h, slightly uneven and marked with 6-7 very ed longitudinal veins ; hilum basilar ; lateral intrusion of the integument deep and broad ; alb omogeneous d, crescent-like in dinal Habitat. — Sumatra, in the Province of Padang (Korthals) ; in the Prov. of van Rijn van Palembang {Heyne No. 13 in Buitenzorg Herbarium and /. A. Alkemade in Herb. Martelli). Borneo on Mt. Mattang in Sarawak (Becc. P. B. No. 1914). Observations. -—I have based the description of this species on specimens gathered from plants cultivated at Buitenzorg, under their right name of K. debilis, and introduced from Palembang. Nat. name u Rotang dahan n , a name, however, applied to several of the non-ocrigerous Korthalsias. KorthaPs type specimen has leaves bearing 6 pairs of leaflets, almost regularly rhomboidal, but longer than wide, and having undulate, obsoletely toothed upper margins. Heyne's specimens No. 13 are also sterile and have leaves with 12 leaflets, sharply toothed on the upper margins ; in one of these specimens the leaf sheaths are nearly unarmed, in » another are rather closely prickly. On the whole K. debilis appears a rather Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII \ 124 ANNAI> OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA K. ngi 'da variable plant in the spinescence of the leaf-sheaths, and the mb d shap of the leaflets, th being more or less long-attenuate to a cuneate b an d having more or less sh toothed ma Probably the young not fertile plants h The- leaves th more numer leaflets than the is well characterized lend habit d an ones. d 1 cuneately rhomhoidal leaflets ; by wis net ; by the above into bearing fe fibre erect ma ocreae elongate, closely sh inflorescence with very fe ng 8—12 dissolved h h spikei fruits ; and by the sph The si to K. deb lmen . ha by the flowers oblong-clavate ; al seed with homogeneous albumen ch I have co small glob of the R B. No. 1914, wh dered as bel also leaves with 6 pairs of leaflets and a very d cirrus otherwise it is in every respect very simi to Korthals's type specimen of K, deb but b sterile some doubts remain about its identifi Pi 76.— K d BL ■P of the stem with an entire leaf ; the end of a fl with mature fruits plant ; portion of the spad in fl wer another portion From plants d at B (Herb. Beccari). 11. Kokthalsia rigida BL Rumphia, ii, (1336) 167 ? t. 157; Mart. Hist, Nat. 211,343 ; Miq. FL Ind. Bat. iii, 79 ; De Palm. Arc. Ind. Sum. 255 ; Walp. Palm. • • • in 26 xcl. K. Lobbiana H. WendL) : Prod FL Ann. iii i 492; Hassk. Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. (1866) 73 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 73 ; Kurz in Journ, As. Soc, Beng. xviii (1874) 207. K. polystachya Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. iii. 210. 343, t. 172. Fig. 1 et Z. XIII ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 77; Becc. Malesia, ii, 74; Hook. f. Fl. / Brit. Ind. vi, 476. Gal am osag us polystachyus Griff, in lit. ad Mart. 1846 ex Mart. 1. c. 211 ; C. ochriger Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. pp. XII. 31. t. CCXVT. 1. Description. — Slender and high scandent. Sheathed stem 12 — 18 mm. in dia- meter. Leaf-sheaths quite smooth, or armed (along the ventral side only) with small and very short prickles. Ocreae of old leaves cylindrical, coriaceous, closely sheathing, 1—2 cm. long, irregularly truncate at their mouths, unarmed or slightly prickly on the ventral side ; in newly expanded leaves, and especially in young plants the ocreae are prolonged into a thinly membranous upper part, some centimetres less disintegrated into a fibrous net, and finally entirely des- Intermediate leaves of the in length, more or troyed, leaving only its short truncate, adult plant 40 — 50 cm. onaceous base. long, ending in a clawed cirrus about as long or shorter. Petiole very short, 2 — 4 cm. long, or at times almost reduced to nothing, distinct- callous at its axilla. Rhachis rather powerfully clawed. Leaflets 5 — 6 on eacl i ide of the rhachis, alternate, rigid, thinly coriaceous, green and almost glossy above, slightly paler or subglaucous beneath, somewhat asymmetrically cuneate- rhomboidal, 15—18 cm. long, 5 — 7 cm. wide, the upper margins irregularly undu- late and erose-toothed, the apex acute or acuminate ; main nerves 6 — 7, slender, the central one more prominent than the others ; transverse veinlets numerous, pellucid and not very prominent ; the ansae are slightly rusty furfuraccous, 10—15 m m . long, not or slightly flattened, and have a thickish base, apparently fleshy in the living plant. The uppermost leaves (especially those nearer to the inflorescence) l r \ K. rigid a. KORTHAI BlA. / 125 are, as usual, smaller, have a shorter cirrus and smaller leaflets 10 cm. by 3*5 more i •egularly rhomboidal. 4 cm.), are more briefly cuneate at the base and The primordial leaves are undivided and oblong-flabellare. Inflorescence twice dif- fusedly branched, 1 m. long, and more ; the primary branches 50 — 60 cm. long, divided into several secondary branches. Spathes elongate-tubular, slightly infundi- buliform, closely sheathing, unarmed, their mouths truncate and slightly produced at one side into a triangular acute point ; the secondary or spike-bearing branches are slender. 3 — 4 mm. in diameter. 25 — 30 cm. spikei long, and bear 5 — 6 spikes. « are attached by a slender flattened pedicellar part to the bottom of thei TV r res- pective spathes, but appear to be inserted at the mouth of these; the latter are spread- ing or recurved, and all more or less turned to one side, very slender, flexu ous 8 — 10 cm. long, 3 — 5 mm. in diameter (not taking into account the flowers), and of ow s a glabrous appearance ; the spathels are broadly triangular, concave, like a swall nest, and sufi'ult the bases of the flowers, obtuse, membranous, strongly striately veined, free (not connate by their margins) anil produced beyond the wool of the flower-bracts ; it is for this reason that the spikes assume a glabrous appearance ; the floral bracteoles are small, almost entirely reduced to dense tufts of short woolly hairs, which make rather deep nest or cup-like involucres to the flowers. Flowers arranged in 7 longitudinal series, immersed' in their woolly bracteoles by the lower part of the calyx only ; the full grown flower buds are 4 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, oblong, terete, obtuse ; the calyx is cyathiform, somewhat attenuate at the base, and exserted from the wool of the flower bracteoles, strongly striately veined, parted to the middle into 3, broad, obtuse lobes ; the corolla is twice or nearly three times as long as the calyx and is divided nearly to the base into three oblong, externally-striate segments ; the stamens have short and thick tila- ments, united at the base with the corolla, and subulate at the apex ; anthers elongate-sagittate, bluntish or apiculate ; ovary ovoid, attenuate above to a short and sulcata, conical acute style, reaching with the apex only to a little above the bases of the anthers ; stigmas very minute. Fruit very email. 8 mm. long, 4 mm. broad, obovoid-turbinate, very suddenly and minutely beaked, narrowing below to a rather acute base ; scaled very small, 1*5 mm. broad and about as long, arranged in 15 longitudinal series, uniformly brown, convex, deeply furrowed along the centre ; the apex blunt, appressed ; the margins very finely and densely ciliate. In the specimens at my disposal the fruits are immature, but probably they had attained nearly their definitive dimensions. The seed, however, is not fully developed, but apparently the albumen is ruminate. Habitat. Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Billiton, Bangka, and perhaps Borneo. Blume gives for his K. rigid a the localities of Sumatra and Borneo. Martins (1. c. p. 343) adds also Java ; Miquel (Prodr. Fl. Sum. 1. c.) mentions Padang in West Sumatra. It is quite possible that this species grows also in Borneo, as it has been found in Billiton (Heyne No. 4 in Buitenzorg Herbarium) the island between Borneo and Sumatra, and in Bangka at Klinju (Graskof No. 60 in Herb. Buitenzorg and Becc). Tt is on the Billiton specimens that I have based the description of the fruit, and it is the specimens coming from this place as from Sumatra that particularly represent the typical A", rigida BL; whereas the specimens that are really to be considered as belonging to K. polystachya are Griffith's from * i • 1 2 6 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. junghuhnii. J Malacca, and those from Singapore at Bukit Timah {Ridley Xo. 8782— Herb. Beccari), from Batu Pahat in Johore {Ridley No. 11208 — Berlin Herb.), and from the State of Pahan {Ridley No. 1-S298 — Herb. Beccari). A slender species, characterized by the h smooth or only sparingly prickly ; the ocreae being closely sheathi which are , having a hort coriaceous basal part, and the remainder fibrous and perishable ; by the leaflets being above homboidaL subglaucous on the lower surface or only paler tha n j by the spikes be very slender and of a glab appearance on account of the spathels projecting bly from the wool of the flower-br flowers h the calyx attenuate at the base, and about half ted by the om t h e wool of the flower b ruminate seed. ^ an d fi by the very small b f h a After a very ful study I have b d to lude that da Bl an d K. Ki hya are to be dered as the same species, d I now think that was not mis the plates of K. poly in uniting them chva in Martins deed, as I d oat in Malesia e.) d a), Ramphia are emely a like. hose of K. rigida in Blume Apparently in the plant described bv Blume as AT. rigida the calyx is a little larger than polystachya, and therefore the corolla is only twice as long as th Malay Peninsula, d calyx, whereas in the specimens coming from the d as representing the typical K. polystachya (Ridley No. 11208), the corolla is somewhat more than twice or nearly three times as long as the calyx ; moreover, in the K. flo wer bud reaches only to b tacky a of Martius, the ovary (in full grown of anthers, whereas in the typical ume specimen of K. rigida the style attains only to the lower third part of the th ers. Of Blui lie's typical K. rig K. polystachya the length of of the specimens from Billiton da the fruit is unknown. Ridl gives for the fruit of in ch 9 '5 mm.), and the not quite mat fruits d j me to K (8 mm diffe 'aid are somewhat smaller therefore is very small y In the Herbarium at Calcutta there is a specimen of Kurz (N 2824) K igtd t^ which is d the locality of Jav The fl of this named pecimen agree exactly with the figures given bv local there d m may the B b some d for d Blume in his plate 157, only about the oubt, as the specimens /might have been Garden and not reallv in the fo of Java Plate 77. — Korthalsia rigida i?/.— Primordial leaf from a specimen collected by Prof. Engler at Singapore (Berlin Herb.) ; portion of the stem with a leaf entire, from Ridley's Xo. 8782 in Herb. Beccari ; branch of the spadix in flower, from Ridley's Xo. 11208 in Herb. Beccari. Plate 78. — Korthalsia rigida BL — Portion of the upper part of the plant bearing the base of the spadix and terminal part of the spadix with nearly mature fruits. Specimen from Billiton (Heyne's Xo. 103 in the Buitenzorg and Beccari Herbaria). / 12. Korthalsia Junghuhnii Miq. in PL Jungh. i, 162 : FL Ind. Bat. iii 1 76 ; De Palm. Arc. Ind. 15, 16 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 71. Description. — Slender and high scandent. Skeatked stem 8 — 12 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths at times almost smooth, but usually armed with small and very short K. jumjhuhnii. KOKTHALSIA. 127 • ckles along the ventral side only, especially near the bases of the petioles. Ocreae having a short permanent coriaceous b Tied ritl wir.ti some ventral side d lengthened ab d d into a closely sheat b wn * kl me on the 1 cm. long in the lower leaves, and shorter in the upper ones this is later more or less a ted a fib edi leaves of the d plant 40 — 50 cm. long in the fe ible net- Inter- part, ending in a somewhat shorter and slender clawed cirrus ; petiole very broadly concave above, r ded b hed wi ith a ho d •> l cm. long, callus and transverse rima at its axilla ; rhachis armed with scattered usually solitary, claws. Leaflets 5 — 6 on each side of the rhachis, alternate, rigid, thinly coriaceous, green and almost glossy above, whitish beneath in newly expanded leaves, but later only slightly paler than above, somewhat asymmetrically cuneate-rhomboidal, 15 — 18 cm. long, 5 — 7 cm. wide, their upper margins irregularly undulate and erose-tootht>d, the secondary teeth very minute and acute ; the apex acute or somewhat produced ; main nerves 7 — 9, slender, the central one more prominent than the others ; transverse veinlets numerous, very fine, continuous and pellucid ; the ansae are conspicuous, 10 — 12 mm. long, minutely rusty-furfuraceous, thickish and swollen at the base. The uppermost leaves, especially those nearer to the inflorescence, are smaller than the intermediate, have a shorter cirrus, and smaller Jeaflets 10 cm. by 3*5—4 cm. or less), and are more shortly cuneate, or more regularly rhomboid al. Inflorescence about 50 cm. long, twice branched, but having only 2 — 3 primary sinuous branches divided into only 2—3 infundibuliform, closely sheathing, secondary branches. Spathes elongate-tubular, slightly unarmed or at times slightly spinulous, their mouths obliquely truncate and slightly produced at one side into a triangular acute point ; the secondary or spike-bearing branches are short (10 — 15 cm. long) and bear wers only 3 or at most 4 spikes. The spikes have a glabrous appearance, are attached by means of a slender, flattened pedicellar part to the bottom of their respective spathes, and have their bases very slightly exserted from these, are alternate, spread- ing, flexuous, 6 — 8 cm. long, 5 mm. in diameter, not taking into account the flowers, and 9 — 10 mm. with them ; spathels broadly triangular, concave like a swallow's nest, and suffulting the bases of the flowers, obtuse, membranous, strongly striately veined, free (not connate by their margins), considerably produced beyond the wool of the flower-bracteoles so that the spikes assume a glabrous appearance ; the floral bracteoles are almost entirely reduced to dense tufts of short woolly hairs. Flo arranged in 7 longitudinal series, dipping into their woolly bracteoles by the lower part of the calyx only ; are 4 mm. long and 3 mm. broad, obovoid, obtuse ; the calyx is cyathiform, not or but slightly attenuate at the base, strongly striately veined; parted down to only a little above the base into 3 ovate obtuse lobes ; the corolla is twice as long as the calyx or a little less, or divided for two-thirds of its length into three ovate cymbiform segments, striate externally ; the stamens have the filaments short and thick, subulate at apex, united below to the entire urceolate base of the corolla ; anthers ovate-sagittate, acute ; ovary ovoid, narrowing above to a short sulcate conical acute style reaching only to the base of the anthers ; stigmas very minute, punctiform. Fruit globular or globular-turbinate, a little longer than broad, 16 — 18 mm. long, 1-4 — 15 mm. broad, rounded at the base, the apex very slightly depressed and bearing the very minute remains of the stigmas in the I f 128 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. merrillii. c 9 centre ; scales in 15 longitudinal series, of a m nam on colour. mm (1 an d ab as hed, strongly the apex obtuse and very appressed, the mar spicuously erosely-ciliolate. Seed d, equalb deeply grooved along the centre very narrowly scarious and ineon- mded at both ends, 10 — 12 mm long, 8 — 9 mm. broad, detachable from the pericarp, having a glossy slightly uneven (not veins surface, only marked longitudinally and slightly with some lm j there is a narrow groove along the raphal side and an intrusion of; th e integument deep and globular ; the albumen is d ruminate ; the em! is placed in the centre of the side opposite to the intrusion of the H k integument to JMiqnel, this species was found growing near Tai m .1 There are several x places in Java having that name, but probably here it means Tap m B as other plants ted by Junghuhn bear this iocalitv. dy has as yet found this palm again in Java. I h d rawn f ted fr the d plants of this species om ecimens m fl ower I d at Buitenzorg, precisely under the name of Junghuh Observ, In the vegetative organs K. Jungh is so simi to K rigid a, that when not bearing fl or fruits, it is nearly impossible to d gu the one from the other. considerably smaller than that j he of in fl K rescence of K. Jungh is however rigida an d has fewer and h er branches and spikes. The flowers in K. Junghuhnii are somewhat larger than in K. rigida, and the corolla is relatively shorter ; but the principal differences between th e two are in the fruit ; that of K. Junghuhnii being several times larger than that of A', rigida, of a quite different shape and with much larger scales. K, Jungh resembles also in its leaves K. deb b in the latter the albumen is homogeneous. • The diagnostic characters of A". Junghuhnii are having 5 — 6 elongately cuneate-rhomboidal lei i he ocreae 2 — 4 cm. long, having a short coriaceous the slender stem ; the leaves flets on each side of the rhachis : base i d a fibrou and perishable upper part ; the inflorescences d but few spike-bearinsr branch d th short, d b 3 — 4 spikes only ; the spikes slender, of a glabrous appearance, having the spathels produced above the wool of the flower-bracteoles ; the fruit globose] or globose-turbinate, 16 — 18 by 14 — 15 strongly convex, and with almost entire mm. wit! the scales ma the seed ruminate. Plate 79. — Korthalsia Junghuhnii Mia. P of the stem and leaves from a full plant grown plant ; a good portion of the d in a ower ; specimen from a ted at Buitenzorg \ Plate 80. — Korthalsia Junghuhnii the end of a fruiting plant with the vated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Beccari). Beccari) Miq.—P spadix ►rtion of the stem with a leaf entire ; entire. Specimen from a plant culti- 13. Korthalsia Merrillii Becc. n. sp Description. — Very slender and not very high scandent 5 m. high — Merrill). Sheathed stem 8 — 10 mm. in diameter. Leaf-sheaths fugaeiously scaly-furfuraceous, armed rather closely with scattered ascendent or spreading light-coloured, slender « ; V 4 K. merr illii . K0RTHALS1A. 129 spines, 4 — 6 mm. long. Ocreae tubular, closely sheathing, 4 — 5 cm. long, armed with the same kind of spines as the sheaths, membranous and truncate at their mouths, later disintegrated more or less into filaments. Leaves of the intermediate part of the adult plant 35 — 45 cm. long in the pinniferous part, bearing few (10 in all) alternate leaflets, and ending in a very slender, rather long, very minutelv clawed cirrus. The leaves nearer to the inflorescence considerably smaller. Petiole very short. Rhachis irregularly and relatively powerfully clawed. Leaflets green on botli surfaces, only slightly paler beneath, but devoid of any kind of pulverulent or crustaceous indumentum, very variable in size and shape ; some are cuneate- rhomboidal and rather elongate in their lower part ; others are exactly rhomboidal. about as long as broad ; generally they have the anterior margins irregularly and not deeply toothed, some of the teeth being very acute and even subaristate • the apex is acute or acuminate, but not produced or caudiculate ; the main 7—9, all slender; transverse veinlets not very sharp. Some of the largest leaflets nerves are measure 16 — 18 cm. b v i 8 cm., others 12 — 13 cm. 8 — 10 cm. ; the two lowest leaflets are the smallest in the few leaves examined v the ansae are strongly flat- tened and 5 — 10 mm. long. The leaves on the upper part of the flowering stem gradually diminish in length and have the leaflets smaller, broader, more exactly and symmetrically rhomboidal, and about as long as wide, measuring from 5 to 7 cm. equally in the two directions. The uppermost leaves, immediately below the inflorescence are, as usual, still more reduced. The inflorescence is small, composed of very few branches (two in the specimen seen by me), about 30 cm. long, bearing alternately 2 spikes on each side, and a terminal one. The spathes are tubular unarmed, closely sheathing, brown, truncate and more or less split and lobed at their, mouths, finely-striate, slightly and fugaciously puberulous-furfuraceous. Spikes inserted at the bottom of their respective spathes by means of a slender pedicellar part, itself provided with infundibular spathes ; during the anthesis the spikes are flexuous, obtuse, 8 — 10 cm. long, and including the flowers 10 — 11 mm. in diameter- the flowers are half immersed in the dense fulvous wool with which their bracteoles are covered ; the spathels are broadly triangular, blunt or subacute, often connate, thinly membranous, reddish-brown, striately-veined, not visible outside the wool of the bracteoles. Flower* small, 4 mm. long, 15 mm. broad, blunt ; the calyx cyathi- form-campanul^te, broadly but not deeply 3-lobed, the lobes bluntish • its mouth remains on a level with the wool of the - bracteoles, strongly striately-veined ; the corolla is about twice as long as the calyx, and is divided nearly to the base into 3 oblong, striate segments ; the stamens have very short filaments ; anthers linear elongate, acute ; ovary small, globose ; style conical, reaching about to the middle of the anthers ; stigmas acute. Fruit unknown. Habitat. — The Philippines : Malampaya Bay in the Island of Pah a wan at sea level. Discovered E. D. Merrill in May 1913 (No. 9410 in Herbaria of" th e Bureau of Science, Manila and Beccari). A d i species, in some respects related to A', tenuissima. It is, however, quite distinct among those ded with closely sheath an .1 spinous ocreae by its leaves having leaflets green on both surface, those of the leaves of the upper part of the plant being rln >mboid th mmet sid d about Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard., Calcutta Vol. XII. N » I' I 130 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. delebica. as long as 1 hile those of the d leaves are longer than broad by the infl being not much divided ; but especially by the ha a very tomentose appearance fr th e tio b half immer d m th woo I of their bracteoles, and by the spathels not being produced above that wool. P K (in two parts), f ilsia Merrillii, Becc. — The entire upper flowering end of a plant the type specimen (No. 9410) in the Manila Herbarium. P •Sl\— K Merrillii. Becc. — Portion of the stem with an entire leaf f rom a young F om N in the Manila H Latin Diagnosis. — Ivorthalsia Merrillii Becc. sp. ■G vaginis spinis gracilibus armatis, ocrea elongata, arete vaginanti et b spinoaa. truncata b demum in fibrie soluta ; frond b r beis vel cuneato-rhombeis. utrinque petiolatis, segmentis rhom dent nonnullis b d spathrllis omuino in tomento immersis. dibus, in margine anteriori argute dentatis parce ramoso, spicis conspicue tomentosis P > * I 14. KORTHALSIA CELEBICA BeCC. n. sp Description.— Slender, more or less disintegrated Sheathed stem 12 — 15 mm in d shea th ventral form p in thei de d in their upper part, into a fibrous net on the d on that id only with two lines of h subtuberculi- Ocrece elongate (6 — 8 cm. long), closely thing, unarmed, coriaceous net in the basal part on the side of the petiole, and disintegrated into d L Hat b convex below. 4 — 6 having a very short petiolar part 9 a cm fil mm at its axilla with a conspicuous callosity, and deep transverse rima ; rhachis fugaciously rusty furfuraceous, armed irregularly with rather robust claws ; the pinniferous part 35—55 cm. long ; the cirrus irregularly clawed, the claws partly ternate, partly half whorled, and partly ed iflets not many, usually 5 on each d .f th cuneate or cuneately rhomboidal, longer than broad, acuminat a e 6 — 10 cm. wide, paler bel i rhachi 15—20 oblo ng- than l-ove (not mealy-white beneath), their cm long, margins undulate and obtusely lobulate toothed ; the lowest d ab the same size; the upper slightly smalle furfuraceous, thickish j ansae 10—15 mm. Ha in Celeb s at H e r b native name in the S.-W. Peninsula in the G Herb A.p bel y once fleshy. Floi Kurosalimbo (Noerl " \V\vq Taimanu ' ilf of Boni {Reiine 1 and Fruit upper diate leaflets rusty- long, k No 483 in Buitenzorg and (type specimen) ; and Buit dj K. celeb also de N d B sterile) and another sterile specimen from S o. of Islands to the E Buitenzorar and Bccea Mangoli, B (Her one of th of Celebes proper, at about 2 II S. L. {Hulsti'jn N B ogor . group 393 m O K only in a sterile condition resembles the sterile specimens of A'. Merittii, b it h In general appearance it low the .-t leaflet s of each leaf of ab ocreae the ned the same size as the ansae thickish, and apparently fleshy on the livino- diate, and the by its x developed axillary callosities and the plant. It is also characterized the leaflets. obtusely undulate-toothed marg K. rogersii KORTHALSIA 131 Latin Diagnosis. — Korthalsia celebica Becc. sp. nov. Gracilis, vaginis in ventre sphacelato-fibrosis et in dorso Bpinis tuberculiformibus armatis, oorea elongate*^ basilari coriacea, superne reticulato-fibrosa ; arete vaginanti, mermi, m parte frondibus brevissime petiolati- ; petiolo callo axillari conspicuo praedito ; segment is ansa crassinsacula suffulris, cuneato-rhombeis, basilaribus et intermediis subae- qualibus, utrinque virentibus, subtus vix pallidioribus, in margine anteriori obtuse undulato-dentatis. * I « 15. Korthalsia Rogersii Becc. n. sp glab Description. — Very rous. finelv-striate, (1 Sheathed stem 6 mm. in d Leaf-sheath quite unarmed. L cf the upper part of the fertile plant (the only ones present) very small, 25 — 30 cm. long, finely clawed cirrus, and having 4 leaflets eluding a slender on each de of the rli lind very closely sheathing c in . long m one specmn \\ Ocrece thinlv inemb and fibrous ; petiole very short, broadly tmelled above, convex beneath. Rha very sparingly and minutely clawed. Leaflets 4-5—6 cm 1 ong, 2*5-4 d. 1) omboid with the apex acute or (1 d-papvraceous, glabrous and green on the lower surface or else slightly paler than on the upper ; the margins, above it, are rather sharply erosely tooth fr 1 about the middl have 6 — 7 very fi e or f ne b ma a little acute main nerves ; ansae strongly flattened, 4 — 5 mm. long. Inflorescence apparently formed only by a few spreading branches, 15 cm. long, (in one specimen) each bearing very short branchlets with 1 — 3 spikes only ; primary spathes unarmed, tubular in their lower part, produced above into an ovate acute limb ; the spathes of the branchlets tubular-infundibuliform, almost truncate at their mouths. Spikes small 3 cm. long (always ?), 5 mm. broad (without the flowers), of a very tomentose appearance, the spathels being entirely concealed by the dense wool of the flower* bracteoles. Fruit obovate-turbinate, a little attenuate towards the base, roundish or slightly flattened above, very minutely mucronate, 18 mm. long, 15 mm. broad ; scales not strongly convex, grooved along the centre, straw-yellowish in colour. apices flattened and of a reddish-brown colour, rather appressed, blun- having the tish or rounded, and the margins conspicuously ciliate-fringed. I Habitat. — Collected in the Andamans by G. G. Rogers (22. III. 1904, No. 143 Herb. Hort. Culc. in Herb. Becc). Observations. — T have seen only the terminal part of this plant bearing two leaves, a portion of the inflorescence, and one fruit. This apparently dist species is mentioned by dis d K. laa'niosa d T P i 19) (Addenda) If it is not a d form of K. laciniosa, it certainly represents one of the sm dlest species of the genus, having the dimensions of K. tenuissima. It is characterized by its very slender stem, by the small leaves having rhom- boidal subconcolorous leaflets, by its 3 elongate closely sheathing ocreae, by the small tomentose spikes, and by the relatively large globose fruit. Plate 83. — (Lower figure) Korthalsia Rogersii Becc. — The entire type specimen in Herb. Beccari. * Ann. Roy. But. Gard., Calcutta, Vol. XII. \ 132 ANNALS OF THK ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA K. tenuissima. L D ocrea d Korthalsia Rogers elongata, arete vaginanti • • Bee •^p. nov. r raerab • % • Gracil s ; vaginis inermi et fibrosa ; frond meato-rhombeis. b con- superioribus parsis, brevissime petiolatis, segmentis paucis cunea coloribus vel subtus vix pallidioribus ; inflorescentiis parce ramosis, spicis parvis, tomentosis ; fructibus obovato-turbinatis, pro rata majusculis, squamis in margine conspicue timb * 16. Korthalsia tenuissima. Becc. Malesia, ii, 275 ; Hook f. Fl. Brit. Tnd. vi, 476; Ridley, Mat. Fl. Mai. Penins, ii, 218. Description. — A very slender palm, up to 30 m, long. Sheathed stem 4—5 mm. in d th ked canes only 3 mm. in diameter. striate. .1 f- sheath b fi th a few sh upper part of the fl d claws. Leaves very small, those of the plant are only 20—30 cm. long, including a d r d cirrus, and on the whole have only 4 — 6 leaflets. d very closely sheathing, glabrous and unarmed, 15—20 mm. long, membranous, perishable in their upper part. P short, and conspicuous d swollen cushion. Th d, at its axilla/ with a cunea tely rhomb oi ijlets are alternate, rigid have the apex acute and somewhat d and th ma r from above tin us, being deep ddle, undul upper mai y and obsoletely toothed ; are conspicuously covered on the lower surface with a thin nerves are about 7 but very faint, and only the central b and the largest leaflets are 10—12 mm. long, 3—4 cm. broad discolorous, chalky coating ; the one rather sh of the uppermost leaves are considerabl; rather fleshy and 3 — 6 mm. long. Intfo spikes (2 — 3 in the few" specimens seen by me). Spath their lower part, expanded above into a broad ass's ear-like, acuminate limb e 8 — 10 cm. long and 12 — 13 mm. in d without ; in this latter condition they have a slightly toment ; thos 7 smaller ; the ansae appear to have been rescence formed of a very few terminal, erect smooth, sheathing in Spikes , and only 6 mm. r with the flowers concave, roundish, d, slightly luced beyond the wool of appearance ; spathels I. fl am th >oles, the two external of which are . a cushion of short, thick, woolly hairs fo sposed on the spikes in about 12 longitud for m d cup, ted fl e r s . series, and beyond the involucra, above The fi de conside h th developed fl calyx bud is campanu are terete, obi obsoletelv 3 h of the calyx is ble the obtuse • 6^mm. • long, 2 5 mm. broad y th even a little mor as ned are very sh toletely 3-toothed, striately-veined ; the corolla is twice, or long as the calyx ; its segments oblong and finely striately ted by their bases ; the stamens h thick filaments, very shortly d to the corolla by their b very short d the th linear, bluntish or acute; the ovary is small are ted by a thick columnar style, trigonous and longitudinally sulcate, always a little shorter than the stigmas punctiform. Fruit unknown. amens H d fo O The Malay Pe King's Collectt A. verv at Larut P No. 4657 in the Calcutt der species, distine-uishab having very few rhomboidal leaflets, chalky white beneath, b in low l Herb by it wampy ound in m very small leaves, s entire, very closely / \ * / / K. laciniosa KOKTHALSIA 133 d med d by spikes of a not very tomentose aspect and b posed of only a fe relatively large ll b Plate 84.— K am ar Calcutt tenuissima Becc. — The entire type specimen in th t H 17. Korthalsia laciniosa Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. iii. 211, 343; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bar. iii, 77 (K. laciniata); Kurz, Burin. Palms in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xliii (1874), 207 (excl. syn.) : For. Fl. Brit. Burma, ii, 513 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 74 (excl. pi. Selangore) and in Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris (1911), 158; Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 479; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb.. 2d. edit., 737 ; Brandis, Ind. Trees, 654. 719. K. laciniosa Mart. ? Becc in "Webbia di U. Mart. iii, 11910) 244. Galamosayus laciniosus Griff, in Gale. Journ. Xat. Hist, v, 23, t. Brit. Ind. 27, t. CLXXXIII and CCXVI. f. 2. Pal ras K. andamanensis Becc. Malesia, ii, 76. K. scaphigera (non Mart.) Kurz in Journ. As. So syn.) t. XX f. A : Forest Fl. 1. c. 3, Beng. 1. c. 207 (excl. \ distint — A large species. Sheathed 2 — 3 cm. in diameter. along 4- b d woody, 4/ he ventral side into embracing fibres, oth jeaf-sheaths very thick sm or at times more or less th ed, especially at the b of petioles and along the dorsum, with very short straight h deflexed d spines ha\ prolonged ab a very thick b ove into a lierulil m 10 — 15 cm. long, and nished at most with only a few spinules, are originally d ous, but very soon be The limb. ocrecs are un ind th are or slightly elongate. med, or fa ly membra entirely ragged and disintegrated into filament on th \ entral d so much so that in old leaves th ocrese may appear to be wanting. Leaves large, those of young plants terminating in a fiabellale leaflet ; those of half grown plants have a lend er cirrus, and a rather elongate 20 — 25 cm petiole, whereas those of the full grown d fort h the ferous part about 1*5 m. long, end plants have the petiole in a very powerfully-clawed cirrus about as long, and bearing about 10 leaflets on each side of the rhachis. The petioles in no case have any distinct callosities at their axillae, are broadly chan- d ab convex d med bel th eir margins, especially in their basal part. which are 10 mm long. Th d are more less irregularly beset on With straight spines, the largest of 5 sides below (but not his is armed at th along the centre) with single robust claws ; in some leaves, apparently bel to young plants, the petiole is unarme Tl leaflets are very variable - shape and size,- from considerably longer than broad or cuneate-oblong or obovoid to dh boidal or oidal d ab as long as broad ; th above and more or less glaucous and in newly are green d leaves are d mean main, beneath they are gidly have 11 — 15 d nerves, end in as many double-toothed harp equally strong ubulate points, th ■ * N s, t 134 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. laciniosa. point of the much inter times as m centre, tl apex • being longer than the others ; transverse veinlets upted 1 not very prominent. The largest leaflets are 20—30 d at as 40 era. long, an d 15—20 cm. broad ; those of the lower part of everv leaf are usually as long, but narrower th those above ; the largest and broadest are those of the middle. The ansae are very conspicuous, very strongly flattened, and almost lami glabrous or nearly so. Infli 15 — 20 mm. up to 3 cm. long, broad, tertiary spike-bt : truncate or prod slightly prickly, to divided into several mm. rv or branches 20—30 cm. long ; spathe: 3 e (T above into a short triangular limb, usually sm ooth d 4 3n da ibul at time? at fi entire, but at the fruiting stage more or less split. The k are alternate, 3 — 5 on each bra have a conspicuous tomentose appearance, the tip only of the spathels being visible de the dense woal of the fl b cm. long, d 7 anc connate mm. are usually 8 — 10 without the floA their margins, almost entirely at times h d 13—14 mm spathels very broad, stronglj 3ad, ned mime d in th wool of the b axid having only their small traingular apex very shortly pi hich is very copious in the two principal floral bracteoles. 1 d the w ool w Flowers arranged in 12 longitudinal series; the full grown buds are oblong, obtuse, very obsoletly trigonous or subterete, 6 mm. long, 2'5 mm. broad ; the calyx is cyathiform, attenuate to th base, striately teeth ; its ed ded down to about the middl 3 very broad acute th remains at a level with the wool of the bracteoles ; the corolla is three times, or nearly so, as long as the calyx, deeply divided into 3 carti- laginous form acute segments, nnely-striate d an d short triangular filaments, united to the short corolla ; anthers long-sagittate, acute ; ovary ovoid. di the stamens have thick led basal part of the narrowing a bove to a sulcate acute style, reaching the base is attenuate a little at the b of the anthers. The rounded above and is oid ical and d by a small :l 11 mm. pungent, 1 # 5 mm. long beak, is 16-17 mm. long (including the beak) an broad ; the scales are arranged in 15 longitudinal series, subsquarrose, or having the apices not very d, are slightly convex, fa d broadly grooved along the centre, of a cinnamon bro of a lighter colour anticously, and the apices, the margins conspicuously colour in their posticous part, th an d ked with a darker intramarginal line near d. Seed globul Ion r 8 mm. broad, equally ded at botl i ds fac void, 10 — 11 mm. ghtly uneven or rimulose or very obsoletely tube the intrusion of the integument is very large ; albumen umi H T And and Sumatra, Ind Griffi bed this species on specimens d the Islands of the Mergui Archipelago. These specimens exactly oods along the sea-shores of correspond with some (sterile) collected by Brandt at Salween in X* Tenasserim. It seems a rather common plant in the Andamans, an d I have seen the specimens refer K in the i to h lT! ob From the Andamans phiger d the fr by D is derived from Putatan stream at Si P ). In the South A (Galathea-Expedit, specimens were 1845-47— H H b i on of ;athered on the C X 58 m b. Gale, and Becc. and No. 49 without precise locality) ; in the Ja J by Kings C< (No. 110 * * K. I acimosa. KORTHALSIA. 135 in Calcutta Herbarium). Large Bterile specimens from tlie Andamans were sent to me in 1889 by Mr. E. H. Man under the native name of " Por." [n Sumatra it was encountered recently (1915) by M. Grasskqff at Lematang ulu in the Residency of Palemb (specimens with fruits in h Herb F the Nicob Nicobar at Ganges H I have seen a specimen (one of 15 iaflet and Beccari). fr tl le G C H spad d a portion of th flower from Car Nicobar (Ki a G described above are from this specimen), Als om the X Herbarium — the fl icobars Mr, Man wets sent me in 1888 laree fruit inir specimens & ^ under the native name of " SI To this Pal Gam gives the Andamanese names of " Bordah >> d Par id It seems to me that some sterile specimens collected by Pierre in Camb (Xo. 4860 Mt. Keerev, P Li g-t d N Xo. IS 78 at Songlu, Prov. Bien-hoa, 1877 e b Nicobars. at Bow-Chiang in Cochin China ; all in the Herbarium at P m ed as not specifically distinct from the plant of the And and th r A note of Pierre to his No. 4860 states this palm to be a very high scandent plant, with stem 3—4 cm. in diameter, and to Xo. 1878 he attributes the names of 1 May-ra " in the Annamite, and " Re-ngan " in the Moi languages. This is one of th<- largest species of th d by its leaf sheaths disintegrating into a fibrous net along the ventral sid not, or only very sparingly, spinous, d d ocrea of a thin memb perishable nature ; bv very elongate not :e leaves bavins- i d umci obi or cuneate-rhomboidal dal or trapezoidal leaflets, at first mealy-white, but finally simply glaveescent beneath, presenting 11 15 mam nerves, which end as many sharply double-toothed and subulate large paniculate much branched inrl by the by the spikes of a very densely wooly appearance when without flowers, having their spathels projecting very b the wool ; by the obovoid. b iefly dd beaked, h (;' scales, slightly convex, not deeply grooved, and densely ciliate-fringed subsquarrose the ma and by th Ibumen of the d I It is very bl shape d colour of the leaflets, ord to the age of the plant and the position the leaves oc on the stem. The leaf-sheaths a Iso vary in in Man pecimens ed and th name of u p have quite smooth leaf sheaths, covered with a light d em Tl other specimens from the Nicob also sent under the native name " SI u h < J the d efflo ^acious, powden d by Man, bu ence on the leaf sheaths of a dark colour, and are rather th fully armed along the d with er r obust, broad spines, having sharp edges, and very short points. The pecimens somewhat differ from those I h seen om th e And more d t with darker scales, a difference Drob fruits not being perfectly mature. I have, h y dependent b flowers of from the Xicobars to be quite id with those of the And K in having age, their specimens irz writes that in the dam occur another species of the habit of A^. laciniosa, but with \ 136 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. tey&mannii. the sheaths densely covered with sharp spines ; probably, however, that spinescence is only an occasional, not a specific character. Grasshoff's Sumatran specimens exactly agree with those from the Andamans. Plate 83. — (In the upper part of the plate) Korthalsia laciniosa Mart. Small, portion, near the the panicle bear Coil No in (1, of a leaf fi spikes with fl Herb. Beccari. the upper part of a fe plant ; branch of Sp from the d P Pla Mart.—?- pad matu fruits ; portion of the sheathed stem, d b of a leaf, from a not full grown plant (the leaf was d by a der cirrus) ; intermediate portion of a leaf (which was specimens fr minated by a robust cirrus) dult plant. F the Kioob with the native name i4 SI n ( Herb. B Pla 86.— K laciniosa Mart. — P of the sheathed stem and inter- mediate portion of a leaf from a not full grown plant. (The leaf had a not very robust cirrus.) From Man's specimens from the Andamans, with the native name u Pot . »> (Herb. Beccari). \ 18. K( Si K K Teysmannii Miq. in J Rot. N i. Prod Fl - • 255, 591 ; De Palm. Arc. Ind. 17, 26 ; Becc. Malesia, ii, 76. b Bl. R Ridle< n • 70 (as to the le only and partly). Mat. Fl. Mai. P ii, 217; Description. — Th at its upper and flo of known. Sheathed stem 2 — 3 cm. in diameter and d apparently considerably more sheaths mor or less spinous • thick and ody on the d of a thinner structure and often split an d lacerated on the ventral sid Ocr closelv she * 10 up to 15 18 cm. long, partially covered with a removable thinly coriaceous or papyraceous, truncate ab ed fugacious scurf, fi more or less agged or disintegrated spines. The 10—12 mm. axilla ; the p and ends in fib armed with some scattered, broad, laminar, straight spreading edi leaves of the adult plants have a 10—20 cm. long. d, spinous on the mai ? d not ha long ob is about T30 — 1*50 m. long clawed cirrus- The rhaeh b is a distinct callus at its 9 leaflets on each side, ned below at the sides but not along the centre, with single robust claws. The are at first me hitisli beneath, and fi i obi even les y th i d tily slightly paler than above 25 — 30 cm. long, and only 7 leaflets are larger and broad of oE 8". cm. broad, and at times boidal or end in as