100 CXLV1I. PALME (WRIGHT). | Podococeus. 
1. P. Barteri, Mann & Wendl. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxiv. 426, t. 38, 
fig. A, t. 40, fig. B, and t. 43, fig. A. An erect, unbranched palm, 
covered with rusty scurf on all its parts. Stem 5-8 ft. high, 9 lin. in 
diam., annulate, with innovations arising from the base; internodes 
3-5 in. apart. Leaves 6-9, 5-6 ft. long, pinnatisect, glaucous green ; 
sheath about a foot long, striate, splitting obliquely, lacerate at the 
margins ; petiole 1-1} ft. long, subterete, channelled on the upper side 
towards the base; rhachis convex on the back, acute above; leaflets 
8-10 on each side, alternate, elliptic-oblong, 3-4 in. apart, plicate, 
many-nerved, the longest 1 ft. by 4 in., the lower smaller, the two 
terminal confluent, lower margins entire, upper irregularly eroso- 
dentate. Spadix lateral, patent, at length pendulous, about 2} ft. long; 
peduncle subterete, about as long as the rhachis; rhachis 3 lin. thick ; 
spathes 4 on the lower part of the peduncle, tubular, marcescent, the 
two lower incomplete and 4-5 in. long, the upper more complete, 
oblique, splitting irregularly and 8-12 in. long. Flowers produced from 
June to August in 8-10 straight or spiral rows of pits, ternate, the 
central female, the lateral male, reddish. Male flower: Sepals 3, dis- 
tinct, elliptic-oblong, often trifid at the apex, keeled, subfalcate, scarcely 
1 lin. long, contorted in bud. Corolla 2 lin. long; lobes elliptic-oblong, 
concave, cartilaginous, striate on the back, patent, valvate. Stamens 6, 
alternately long and short ; filaments filiform, adnate at the base to the 
corolla-tube and rudimentary 3-toothed ovary; anthers oblong-cordate, 
dorsifixed. Female flower: Sepals as in the male, but less rigid. Corolla 
3-fid, united with the base of the ovary into a short stalk ; lobes oblong, 
acute, concave, striate on the back, erecto-patent. Staminodes 6, minute. 
Ovary 3- (or by abortion 1-) celled, stipitate, oblong ; stigmas 3, terminal, 
short, recurved; ovule pendulous, Fruit baccate, edible, oblong or 
elongate-oblong, orange, bent above the base, with the scar of the 
stigma subbasal, stipitate, nearly 1 in. by 4-5 lin. Seed elongate- 
ellipsoid, slightly oblique, 9 lin. by 2 lin.—J. Braun & K. Schum, in 
ee Deutsch. Schutzgeb. ii. (1889) 148; Drude in Engl. Jahrb. xxi. 
Upper Guinea. Niger Delta: mouth of the Brass River, Barter, 36! 325! 
1837! Left bank of the River Nun, Mann, 452! 
Lower Guinea. Gaboon: Munda; Sibange Farm, Soyaua, 94! 95. 
3. SCLEROSPERMA, Mann et Wendl.; Benth. et Hook. f. 
Gen. Pl. iii. 919. 
Male flower: Sepals 3. Corolla-lobes 3, valvate. Stamens many ; 
filaments very short; anthers linear, extrorse, basifixed. Female 
flower: Calyx of 3 distinct sepals or 3-lobed. Corolla 3-lobed ; lobes 
convolute below, valvate at the apex. Staminodes 6 or 9, very small. 
Ovary unicarpellary, 1-celled ; ovule pendulous ; stigma large, oblique. 
Fruit a large drupe, obliquely depressed, stigmatic scar lateral ; epicarp 
thin; mesocarp fibrous; endocarp thin but hard. Seed depressed 
globose, surrounded by the branches of the raphe, which radiate from 
