Tas. 6854. 
MARTINEZIA caryormronta. 
Native of Tropical South America. 
Nat. Ord. Patmea.—Tribe CocornEx. 
Genus Martinezia, Ruiz et Pav. ; (Benth. et Hook.f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p- 944.) 
Martinezia caryotefolia; caudice gracili 20-30-pedali creberrime annulato, 
annulis aculeis elongatis nigris horridis, foliis pinnatis pinnis aggregatis e 
basi lata elongato-cuneatis truncatis apice sub-3-lobis erosisque utrinque viri- 
dibus glabris, lobis marginalibus interdum longe productis, petiolo rachique 
aculeatis aculeis gracillimis, spatha elongato-clavata aculeata, spadice pedali 
laxe paniculatim ramosa ramis elongatis, bracteis ad basin ramorum parvis e 
basi lata lanceolatis, drupis globosis. 
M. caryotefolia, Humb. Bonpl. et Kunth, Nov, Gen. et Sp. vol. i. p. 305, and 
vol, vii. tab. 699; Kunth Enum. vol. iii. p. 270; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. 
vol. iii. pp. 284 and 322, tab. 161, fig. 1; and Palm. Orbign. p. 76; Drude 
in Mart. Fl. Bras., Palm. 394, tab. 85. 
A handsome small Palm, belonging to a genus of which 
fourteen species have been enumerated, all natives of 
tropical America, where they inhabit hot valleys and river 
banks. As may well be supposed from a glance at the 
plate here given, they are plants not easily collected and 
preserved for scientific purposes, and it is consequently 
not possible to define with accuracy the geographical 
limits of the species. M. caryotefolia is the first known, 
and is undoubtedly a native of New Granada, and is stated 
to inhabit equatorial Brazil, Peru and Guiana. Five species 
of the genus are cultivated at Kew, but no other has 
hitherto flowered. 
M. caryotefolia has been cultivated for many years in 
the Royal Gardens, having been raised from seed imported 
from New Granada, and collected by Purdie in 1845, when 
he was travelling in the service of the Gardens in that 
country. The plant is now about twelve feet high, and 
flowers in May. 
Descr. A small graceful Palm, attaining thirty feet in 
height. Stem cylindric, strict, erect, slightly swollen at 
the base, where it roots above the soil, closely ringed ; 
JAN. Ist, 1886. 
