234 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
There is no reason to doubt that Karsten’s species pubescens is ruminate, but 
he gives us no indication of the origin of the still more strongly ruminate seed 
that he figured as representing pracmorsus (see Pl. 59, Fig. 15). It is not to be 
assumed that Klotzsch would have called such a seed uniform. 
The most recent account of this species is by Jahn’ who gives additional 
data from Venezuela, probably based on palms growing near the original habitat 
of the species. Jahn’s description may be translated as follows: 
“'Phis species is very abundant throughout the subalpine region (1,500-2,000 
meters) of our Caraibe cordilleras where it is given the name ‘ prapa’ by the 
indigenes. Its smooth cylindrical trunk reaches 6 to 8 meters in length and 
10 to 15 em. in diameter. The woody part is very hard, black, and heavy 
(specific gravity in dry state 1.25 according to Ernst) and incloses a soft 
central pith. Leaves few, pinnate, 2 meters long and composed of 10 to 20 
pinne on either side of the rachis or common petiole with a terminal pinna. 
The pinne are alternate, herbaceous, pale green, situated some distance from 
each other, irregularly rhomboidal, toward the tip more or less deeply incised. 
The 6 to 8 longitudinal veins or nerves run parallel with the pinnie, and are 
prominent on the under side. Pinnse 20 to 80 cm. long by 6 to 3 cm. broad. 
The terminal leaf is triangular or in the form of a half-open fan, cuneiform at 
base and truncate or gnawed at the tip. whence comes the specific name prae- 
morsus. ‘The aerial roots form a pyramid of radiating pillars that gives strong 
support to the trunk. They are distinguished by their rough surface filled 
with spine-like protuberances that protect them from the herb-eating animals, 
principally the vaquira (Dicotyles) and the tapir (Tapirus) which inhabit the 
same region. The inflorescences have many spathes (10 to 12), fusiform, almost 
cylindrical, 20 to 25 cm. long and 5 to 6 cm. thick at the largest point, which 
is slightly below the tip. Inflorescences springing directly from the nodes of the 
trunk and not (as in the Iriarteas) from the base of the crown or leaves. 
Every spadix has 5 or 6 spathes, three interior and complete, closed until the 
time of flowering, and three exterior and shorter and incomplete; that is to 
say, always open at the upper end like short tubes. The flowers are seated 
in depressions, and are yellow and without bracts, the male and female on the 
same tree, but in different inflorescences. The male flowers have a_ three- 
parted calyx and a corolla of three triangular, somewhat tleshy petals, and have 
9 to 15 stamens with free filaments and with anthers which split with two 
iongitudinal apertures, this permitting the dispersion of the somewhat rough- 
ened pollen grains, The female flowers have the same number of sepals and 
petals as the male, with 4 to 6G staminodes. The ovary is three-celled, with the 
carpels very distinct, the style very short, and the three stigmas quite large, 
thick, with the interior somewhat channeled. The fruit is an egg-shaped berry 
with grumous pericarp, black, with a bluish luster, about the size of a pigeon’s 
egg, inclosing a single seed. The ‘ prapa’ flowers from August to October, and 
in the following April or May the fruits are mature.” 
WETTINIEAE. 
SYNOPTICAL KEY TO THE GENERA. 
Inflorescences simple; many (8 to 15) from each node..WETTINIA (p. 235). 
Inflorescences with 4 or 5 branches; five inflorescences 
from each node but only the middle one maturing. .\WeTrinELLA (p. 235). 
‘Jahn, Alfredo, jr. Las Palmas de la Flora Venezolana 49-50. 1908. 
