246 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
In affording such a combination of the characters of the Cocaceae 
with those of Manicariaceae and Phytelephantaceae, Pseudophoenix 
adds to the evidences of relationship drawn from the characters of the 
other families. On account of their peculiar flowers and fruits the 
ivory palms of South America had not been considered genuine 
palms, but had been placed in other orders, usually in association 
with Nipa, an altogether different Old World type. The recognition 
of the Phytelephantaceae as true palms and their association with 
the Cocaceae appear the more completely justified, now that we have 
Pseudophoenix as well as Manicaria to illustrate intermediate con- 
ditions of development of the characters of the fruits. Indeed, 
Pseudophoenix is much more directly intermediate than Manicaria 
in the particular characters in which the coconut palms and the ivory 
palms appear most widely divergent. The exocarp of Manicaria is 
much like that of Phytelephas and quite unlike that of any of the 
Cocaceae, while Pseudophoenix appears closer to the Cocaceae in the 
exocarp and closer to the ivory palms in the endocarp. 
PSEUDOPHOENIX THE TYPE OF A NEW FAMILY. 
Though the characters of the fruits and the germinating seedlings 
afford consistent and substantial evidences of the affinity of Pseu- 
dophoenix with the ivory and coconut palms, it does not appear that 
‘any very close alliance can be established. Pseudophoenix would 
certainly appear as a very anomalous genus if placed in the Cocaceae, 
Manicariaceae, or Phytelephantaceae. The only reasonable course 
seems to be to assign it to an independent position in the classifica- 
tion as representing a new and distinct family, Pseudophoenicaceae. 
The salient characters are indicated in the following description: 
Family PSEUDOPHOENICACEAE. 
Inflorescence exserted on a long-jointed, naked peduncle, dividing into numerous 
compound, naked branches, the spathes confined to basal joints. (Pu. 75,c.) Flowers 
andromonecious, male and bisexual in the same inflorescence, widely scattered on 
‘the ultimate branchlets, each flower supported on a slender pedicel articulated to 
the branch by an expanded hollow base, (PL. 75, a, b.) 
Calyx represented by a narrow, saucer-like rim of a thickened receptacle, the sepals 
‘indicated by slightly prominent, broadly rounded angles alternating with the petals. 
~ Corolla of three large, thick, valvate, persistent petals, firmly fleshy in texture 
and with distinct longitudinal veins. Stomata present on both surfaces. ‘Tissues sup- 
plied with chlorophyll and with numerous bundles of raphides, 
Stamens 6, borne on short, flattened, triangular-subulate filaments slightly united 
at base to form a narrow fleshy disk. Anthers triangular-cordate, about twice as long 
_as broad, attached to the filaments at the base in a deep cavity of the outer face. Cells 
separated on the inner face by a distinct groove, but appearing completely coalesced 
on the smooth outer face, opening by lateral slits as soon as exposed. Pollen white. 
' Pistils 3, united to near the apex into a rather narrow, triangular-conic pyramid 
shorter than the stamens. Styles not differentiated; stigmas represented by three 
obtuse, appressed apical lobes, separating only by narrow slits. Pistillodes of imper- 
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