948 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
base, the reduced limb of the calyx, and the very large, firm petals are 
the most peculiar features. The pedicels are as highly specialized as 
in any of the fan palms, oreven moreso. They are articulated to the 
branches by an expanded, circumscissile, hollow base leaving a con- 
ical persistent core. This might be mistaken for a short pedicel after 
the flowers have fallen. The calyx, receptacle, and pedicel are com- 
pletely fused together. (Pus. 74, 75, a, 6.) 
The unusual development of the petals is doubtless connected with 
‘the fact that the inflorescences become exposed at an early stage of 
growth, whereas in most palms they are protected by spathes until just 
before the flowers open. The spathes of Pseudophoenix are so short 
that the flowers must become exposed while they are still very young. 
At the time of flowering the spathes extend only to about the middle 
of the longest joint of the peduncle. The spathes are narrow and 
compressed, with naked green surfaces and brown scaly margins, and 
are bilabiate at the aperture. 
The equipment of the petals with stomata, chlorophyll-bearing cells, 
fibrovascular bundles, and raphides indicates that they are able to 
discharge vegetative functions. This makes it possible to understand 
how they are able to remain alive until the fruit ripens. The veins of 
the petals are usually five in number, but are often somewhat irregu- 
larly branched. The chlorophyll is more abundant along the veins. 
The epidermis is composed of an irregular mosaic of cells whose lateral 
walls are often interrupted or perforated. The bundles of raphides are 
irregularly scattered, but all lie in a longitudinal direction. It is not 
known whether stomata and raphides are to be found in the petals of 
other palms. The abundant development of raphides in the petals of 
Pseudophoenix may have relation to an unusual period of exposure of 
the flowers to the attacks of snails or insects. 
The ease with which the pedicels separate from the branches, the 
ereat abundance of pollen, and the very prompt opening of the 
anthers indicate that the flowers are ephemeral and dependent on 
fertilization by the wind, though it is possible that nectar to attract 
insects may be secreted by the fleshy staminal disk. 
Though the petals remain green, the anthers are of a bright orange 
color that may render the inflorescences conspicuous at flowering time. 
A broad, longitudinal band along the middle of the smooth outer sur- 
face of the unopened anthers is of a darker yellow than the pollen 
cells, which contrast in turn with the white pollen. 
THE PSEUDOPHOENICACEAE AND ALLIED FAMILIES DISTIN- 
GUISHED BY FRUIT CHARACTERS. 
The fact that the fruits are borne on distinct columnar pedicels at 
once distinguishes Pseudophoenix from any of the American pinnate- 
leaved palms. Only the wax palms (Ceroxylon) show structures 
