TnE PALMS OF SIKKIM. 5 



growth of such tropical plants as Pahns. Accordingly we find 

 only Wallichia ohlongifolia^ two species of Calamus^ and Fhcenix 



acaulis extending along the Himalayan chain to the west of 

 Sikkim. Two other Palms, for which the climate of Sikkim is 

 too wet, are added to the number ; these are Phoenix sylvestris 

 and Chamcerops Martiana. 



In Sikkim the Palms mentioned in this enumeration are most 

 abundant in the hot and very damp valleys of the Mahannuddee 

 and the Teesta rivers in the eastern part of Sikkim. They are 

 apparently common in Bhotan, at least on the outer hills. 



None of the cultivated Palms of Bengal are grown in Sikkim, 

 or even in the Terai, at the foot of the hills ; Areca catechu ceases 

 along wath the cultivation of " Pawn " {Piper befle) at Suneezee 

 Kottah, about twenty-five miles from the Himalaya. In the ad- 

 joining districts of Bhotan, on the east bank of the Teesta, Areca 

 catechu abounds near the villages of the Mechis, within a few 

 miles of the hills. Old trees of Caryota nrens also occur near 

 the wooden stockade of the Bhoteas, as far south as Mynagoree. 

 The Lepchas, who have many claims to be considered the ab- 

 origines of Sikkim, are familiar with the Palms of their native 

 forests, and have given distinct names to all of them except 

 Phcenix rupicola and Liciiala peltata. These Lepcha names are 

 quoted under each species • 



Tribus I. AEECiifEjE. 



r 



Areca, Linn. 



A. GRACILIS, Roxb, FL Ind. ill. p. 619; Griffith^ Pahns of British East 

 India, p. 154, tab. 232 a, b,c- — Seafortlua gracilis. Mart, Palm, 



p. 185. 

 . Hob. Moist tropical valleys; valleys of the Great Rungeet and the 

 Teesta, 



This Palm grows gregariously under the shade of trees in the 

 densest tropical forests of Sikkim. I have seen it in the lower part 

 of the valley of the Great Eungeet and along the banks of the 

 Teesta, throughout the course of the river in British Sikkim and 

 Bhotan, also in the narrow valleys of the streams entering the 

 Teesta below its confluence with the Great Rungeet. I have not 

 noticed this Palm in the dry forests at the foot of the hills. It 

 ranges in altitude from 400 feet in the Teesta valley to 2500 feet 

 in the Eunjo near the plantations of Cinchona succiruhra. This 

 species of Areca is found also in the Khasia hills, Assam, Bho- 



