12 BE. Anderson's enumebation of 



superioribus solitariis, alternis, lineari-lanceolatis, apice longe acuml- 

 natis et aristatis, basi conduplicatis, 5-veuiis, marginibus adpresse 

 spinoso-setosis, utrinque viridibus; si)adicibus terminalibus, erectis, 

 raniis nutantibus, ferrugineo-furfuraceis ; spathis conduj^licatis, sub- 

 coriaceis, ferrugineo-tomentosis, raro glabris, apice integris, ore 

 oblique acuminato ; spicis solitariis, brevibus, flexuosis, 3-7-floris, 

 spathulis laxis, subdistiehis, rhomboideis, apice obcuneatis acutis, 

 marginibus infra apicein revolutis, extus ferrugiDeo-toraentossis, 

 iiitus glabris ; floribus masculis setis tribus suffultis ; calycibus 

 infra medium tripartitis, cupuliformibus, laciniis glabris in setam 

 desinentibus ; fructibus subglobosis, depressis, basi calyce et corolla 

 persistentibus suffultis, stylis tribus siccis rostratis ; squamis adj>res- 

 sis, finibriatis, non villosis. 

 Hab. In sylvis temperatis, prsesertim lauretis, in arbores alte scandens, 

 4000-7000 pedum altitudinem. , 



Palma flagellis aculeatis scandens. Caudex nudus, 1 unc. diametro, 

 Frondes cum flagello 6-8 pedes longae. Pinnce glabrae, 12-16 unc. 

 longse, 1-1^ unc, latse. Spadix foemineus 5-6 ped. longus; rami 

 alterni, 6-9 unc, distantes, penduli, 2-3 ped. longi. Spathcs2-A uuc. 

 longae. Bacca ferruginea, magnitudine glandis Querci. 



I do not think that JPlectocomia Assamica^ Grriff., and P. Khasiya- 

 nay Griff., can be united with this species, as doubtfully suggested 

 by Sir W. Hooker (vide Bot. Mag. tab. 5105), I have seen au- 

 thentic dried specimens of all these species as well as living plants 

 of P. Assamica and P. Himdlayana ; the Sikkim species is certainly 

 distinct from the Assam one. The small species of Flectocomia 

 which Sir W. Hooker referred to in a foot-note (Joe. eit.) as 

 having been detected in Sikkim by Dr, Hooker, and specimens 

 of which have been distributed from Kew under the name of P. 

 montana^ Grijff., is apparently P. Mimalayana, Griff. 



P. Assamica and P. Khasiyana are identical ; and the older 

 name P. Assamica^ Griff., should be adopted. P. Assamica^ Griff,, 

 is easily distinguished from P. Himalayana^ Griff., by having 

 much broader pinnae, which are very glaucous on the under sur- 

 face (those of P. JRmalayana are green on both sides), by larger 

 spadices, w^se branches are covered with very rusty tomentum. 

 The fruits of P. Assamica are much lar<T:er and more tomentose 

 than those of P. Himalayana^ whose fruits are small, much 

 flattened from the apex, with glaucous scales with fimbriated 

 margins. 



This is the most abundant species of rattan in Sikkim. It 

 occurs gregariously in all moist forests, from 4000 to 7000 feet 

 above the sea, and penetrates into the interior even to the basic 



