of this interesting plant, which certainly approaches very closely 
indeed to the C. excelsa, Mart., a species discovered and described 
by Thunberg, figured by Martius, and of which a noble speci- 
men, twenty-eight feet high, received from Japan, through Dr. 
Siebold, flourishes in the Palm house at Kew. To this we 
were strongly inclined to refer Mr. Fortune’s palm, notwith- 
standing that the C. excelsa was never supposed to be even halt- 
hardy, both because of its near resemblance and because Thun- 
berg states C. exce/sa to be a native of China and only intro- 
duced into Japan. Mr. Smith, however, has always considered 
them different, and after a close comparison we are disposed to 
agree with him, on the following accounts :—C. Fortunei is a 
more robust species, with more compact and appressed matted 
network of fibres amongst the bases of the petioles, much stouter 
shorter petioles, less glaucous more shining foliage, far broader 
segments of the leaves, and pendulous apices to these. The 
flowers of the two are nearly alike, and the fruit of C. Fortunes 
is unknown; that figured for it at Figs. 6 and 7 of our Plate 
was introduced by error, and should be expunged. 
Descr. The caudex or stem, in its native climate, eight to 
twelve feet high (exclusive of the crown of leaves), the lower por- 
tion marked transversely with the numerous stars of the fallen 
leaves, the upper portion exhibits the bases of the petioles of the 
old leaves, mixed with a good deal of coarse transverse fibre, 
which also abounds among the perfect foliage. Fronds forming 
a handsome, more or less spreading crown to the caudex. Pe- 
tioles a foot and a half or more long, convex below, nearly plain 
above, the margin quite unarmed, or very obscurely toothed, in 
which respect it differs widely from the better-known Ch. humi- 
lis. Lamina semiorbicular, flabellate, a foot and a half long and 
broad, deeply plaited, cut for about a half or more of the way 
down into numerous linear segments, which are 3-1 inch broad, 
pendulous towards their apices. Spadiz small in proportion to 
the plant, and consequently not very conspicuous, emerging from 
several imbricating leafy dracts, forming the spatha, and cov- 
stituting a dense thyrsoid panicle, more than a spah long, and 
clothed with yellow flowers, scarcely so large as those of the 
Lily of the Valley. Peduwncles and primary branches thick : ulti- 
mate branches pubescent. Flowers sessile, rarely perfect, mostly 
male or female. Ca/yx small, of three sepals. Corolla of three 
orbicular petals. Séamens inserted on the base of the petals. 
Ovaries three, ovate, hairy, tapering upwards into a thick subu- 
late style. : 
Fig. 1. Very reduced figure of flowering plant. 2. Spatha and spadix :— 
natural size. 3. Female flower. 4. Petal and stamen. 5. Ovaries. (N-B. 
Figures 6 and 7 are fruits of another plant, unintentionally introduced, and are 
to be eancelled) :—all but Figs. 1 and 2 magnified. - 
fee 
