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192 MR. SPRUCE ON FIVE NEW PLANTS FROM EASTERN PERU. 
tubular, entire sheaths; and the broad pinns are premorse, and 
cut at the extremity. It differs notably from the Iriarteas, in 
the short spadices, so densely clad with hairy fruits as to have 
suggested to the-prurient imagination of the Peruvians the name 
by which this palm is known in Maynas— Péllo-corófo (i. e. 
* testiculi hirti’’). 
Wettinia Maynensis differs from W. augusta chiefly in the more 
numerous pinnæ (38—40 pairs, while in W. augusta they are but 
18-20 pairs), and in the spadices, which are only three from one 
leafring, and put forth 5-8 fastigiate branches at their apex; 
while in W. augusta they are simple, and as many as from 8 to 15 
grow from the same ring. There is a further difference, in the 
spathes, which in W. Maynensis are 6 in number, the three outer 
(corresponding to what are called by Martius in other genera 
* spathæ incomplete’’) much smaller, and persisting on the pe- 
duncle in the form of sheaths; while the three inner and larger 
ones (* spathz complete") fall away before the fruit is ripe, or 
persist only in fragments. In W. augusta the spathes are said to 
be two, and the peduncle is said to be furnished with remote 
coriaceous sheaths—undoubtedly the remains of the incomplete 
spathes. In both specimens the sepals vary in number, and the 
stamens are from 12 to 16, nor does there seem to be much dif- 
ference in the form of the fruit; but in W. Maynensis the arilli- 
form raphe is in every stage thin and papery, while in W. augusta 
it is fleshy. In Endlicher's description, the scale-like external 
sepals are considered bracts ; but as they quite correspond to what 
are called sepals in other palms, I describe them as such. 
On comparing Endlicher’s description of the ovary of W. au- 
gusta with that of JV. Maynensis, given below, there is an apparent 
difference, which at first sight might be supposed even generic; 
but when the two species come to be compared, I expect it will 
turn out to be no difference at all. In W. augusta the ovary is 
said to be solitary, and the style is inserted “ prope ovarii basin 
eodem cum ovulo latere"—an abnormal position in palms. In 
W. Maynensis the ovaries are 3, concrete at the base with each 
other and the central style; two of them are mostly sterile, and 
at the time of ripe fruit might be taken for a mere thickening of 
the base of the style, along with which they persist, of course 
laterally to the fertile carpel. I have no doubt that the same 
structure obtains in W. augusta, and that the sterile ovaries are 
either obsolete or have been overlooked from their minuteness. 
From the detailed description of W. Maynensis, an idea may be 
