DE, R. SPEUCE ON EQUATORIAL-AMERICAN PALMS. 91 



tiona from the typical character occur — two Eastern genera, Cera- 

 tolobits and Dcsmonorops^ having complete spathes as well as 

 spathellse, while the spadices are paniculate. But this is only 

 one of those instances of transition to a more universal type which 

 beset all our systems. 



§ 11. The Trihea and Genera of Palms (and of all other plants?) 

 are imperfectly cTiaracterized if the Structure of the Leaves he 

 not taken into consideration. 



In classifying Palms I should like to avail myself of the import- 

 ant characters afforded by the foliage. In this case, as in that of 

 other groups of Phanerogams, we seek for recondite features in 

 the flowers and fruits, and shut our eyes to, or at least leave out 

 of our generic and tx'ibual characters, the very obvious and often 

 constant characters afforded by the leaves— ignoring the fact that 

 in all stable groups, Avhether of higher or lower rank, there should 



be some correlation of structure in every organ, which it is the 

 systematist's part to trace out and rate at its true value. I do 

 not here attempt to follow out my notions to their results, because 

 I have been unable to reexamine many of the larger-fruited even 

 of the American Palms, without which I cannot venture to decide 

 on some presumed affinities. Por my present purpose the fol- 

 lowing conspectus will sufficiently characterize the few genera with 

 which I shall have to deal ; and for further elucidation I must 

 refer to the detailed accounts of the genera and species which 

 follow. 



§. 12. Conspectus Generum Palmas Spruceanas complectcntium. 



SpATiiiELORiE. Spadix vage ramosus simplexve, primum spathis 

 universalibus (una pluribusve) pedunculo adnatis obvelatus. 

 Polia simplicia bifurca, pinnatisecta vel pinnata. Tructus 

 esquamatus. 

 Carpella (plerumque 3) distincta vel plus minus alte coalita, 

 ssepissime unicum fertile, maturatum asymmetricum, duobua 



stcrilibus e fertilis pericarpio exclusis. 



Corolla 2 gamopetala vel petalis valvatis constans. 

 Calycis utriusque sexus sepala imbricata. Spatha? 2. 

 Stamina 6 ; filamenta in tubum coalita ; anthera? loculi 

 Jineares omnino discreti. Baccae hand compressa). 



Geoxoma, Willd. 

 Stamina 6 ; filamenta sublibera ; anthera) orbicularcs 



dorsifixae. Drupa? insigniter compressa). 



Leopoldinia, Mart. 



