Nunnezlaria.'] equatorial- amebican palms. 121 



r 



NuK^EznAEiA, R, et Pav. (1794). 



Chamredorea, JFilld. (1803). 



This genus, altliougli placed so far apart from Geonoma in tlie 

 arraugement of Kunth, is plainly its near ally. The slim graceful 

 habit is the same ; and so Is the essential character of the tripar- 

 tite ovary^ the two minute, abortive, and indurated carpels per- 

 sisting at the base of the ripened fertile carpel^ as they sometimes 

 do in Geonoma. The differences, however, are numerous and 

 important, viz. rhachis exalveolate, inflorescence dioicous, calyx 

 gamophyllous, anther-cells connate, androcceum wanting to $ 

 flowers, berries with polished cutlclcj &c. 



I gathered but one species, certainly referable to Nunnezharia^ 

 viz. the N. fragrans of Euiz and Pavon, which is widely distributed 

 along the eastern roots of the Peruvian Andes, having been 

 gathered by those authors in the space between the rivers Hual- 

 laga and Ucayali, and by myself on the western side of the Ilual- 

 laga, in the hills of Tarapoto, at an elevation of 2000 to 3000 feet. 

 There it forms largo beds under the tall trees, and perfumes the 

 forest far and wide, with its orange-coloured male flowers, all 

 tbrough the latter half of the year, but especially in the month of 

 August. The Peruvian girls, who call it "Sangapilla," stick it in 

 their hair, put it under their pillows, and use it largely in decora- 

 ting the little crosses which they set up at the junction of forest- 

 paths. My specimens, dried fourteen years ago, still give out 

 their fine odour of mignonnette with a dash of primrose when hot 

 water is poured on them, 



AVhether or not this premorse-leaved species be truly a con- 

 gener of the others, with entire pinnse, referred to Chamcedorea by 

 Martins, there can be no doubt that the name Nunnezliaria has 

 precedence and must stand. 



1. N. PRAGHAXs, -R. et r. Sijst 297 J Prodr. 137, t 31. 



JIah. in Chinchao et Cuchero nemoribus Peruvit'ie {R. et P.); in sylvis 

 Andium orientalium inferiorum prope Tarapoto {S, lib. Palm, Go). 



Caudkes gracillimi, diametro ^-pollicari, -^irescentes, annidis spatio 2- 

 poUicari stjuuctis notati, flexuosi; iuclinati, rare erecti. 



Folia sub sex contemporanea, simplicia bifurca^ glaboriima ; petiulas 

 ba^i in vaginani integrain 4-5-pollicarem superne pauIo ampliatam 

 dilatatus^ proprius poUicaris vel etiam brevier; la?ntna profunde 

 acuteque bifurca, furcis 14-15-pollicaribus, vix ultra sesquipollicem 



