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CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



of the soil, where its roots can more readily establish contacts with 

 sources of permanent moisture. 



It appears therefore that the reasons assigned for excluding 

 Phytelephas from among the palms "either are mistakes regarding 

 the facts, or relate to characters which are almost completely par- 

 alleled among other palms. Until some new or more serious differ- 

 ences are discovered Phytelephas should he reckoned as a true palm. 

 The close resemblance that Seemann pointed out between Phytele- 

 phas and Elaeis melanococra may not be altogether superficial. The 

 inflorescences of Elaeis and the related South American genus Bar- 



Fig. 42.— Phytelephas seed- 

 ling from Panama. One- 

 half natural size. After 

 Seoman. 



Fig. 43. — Phytele- 

 phas seedling fr 



Colombia. One- 

 half natural size. 

 After Karsten, 



Fig. 44. — Acroeomia seed- 

 ling from Guatemala. 

 One-half natural size. 

 From original photo- 

 graph. 



cella show other analogies with Phytelephas. In Elaeis the inflor- 

 escences are of separate sexes (monoecious). In Barcella the male 

 flowers are crowded on long cylindrical catkins that run out beyond 

 the spathes. though not nearly so far as in Phytelephas. The fact 

 that it is possible to recognize the relationships of Phytelephas, not 

 merely with the palms in general, but with particular groups, should 

 have called forth a more serious questioning of the alleged reasons 

 for rejecting it from among the palms. Though similarities 

 should not be allowed to conceal or to cancel differences, a consistent 

 series of similarities affords the very best evidence of relationship. 



