Tas. 4773. 
ASTROCARYUM Rrostratum. 
Beak-sheathed Astrocaryum. 
Nat. Ord. Patma.—Mone@cia HExanpria. 
Gen. Char. Flores monoici in eodem spadice, spatha simplici fusiformi ventre 
aperto lignescente diu persistente cincto.—Masc. in superiore ramorum parte 
densi, in alveolis sessiles. Calyx exterior 3-partitus v. 3-fidus, tener, basi pro 
trajicientibus vasis pervius ; laciniis 3-angularibus, acutis ; inderior 3-partitus vel 
subtrisepalus ; laciniis oblongo-lanceolatis, erectis, membranaceis vel basin ver- 
sus carnosiusculis. Stamina abortu 6, ex imo calyce interiore orta, sepalis inte- 
rioribus per paria opposita, raro plura, plerumque parum exserta (inclusa, Hndl.) ; 
Jilamenta filiformia, erecta; anther@ lineari-subsagittate, dorso affixee, incumben- 
tes. Ovarii rudimentum minimum, stigmatibus tribus subulatis—Fem. infra 
masculorum spicas solitarii, in rachi vel in pedunculi parte dilatata sessiles ; 
bractea marginali duplici, obvoluti. Calyx exterior urceolatus, obiter 3-dentatus, 
pergameneus, nervosus, sicciusculus; interior urceolatus, carnosus, ore contracto 
subdentato, tandem irregulariter trifido, intus basi in annulum membranaceum 
elevatus, uti exterior, foramine orbiculari pervius. Ovarium ovatum, loculis 2 
rudimentariis 1-loculare. Stylus 1. Stigmata 3, in corpus floccoso-gelatinosum 
conicum vel lobatum confluentia. * Drupa ovata vel subglobosa, 1-sperma; carne 
crassiuscula, valide fibrosa : putamine osseo, vertice 3-poroso, Nuclei testa venosa, 
Albumen equabile, corneum, album, centro cavum. Hmbryo intra porum apicalis. 
Palme mediocris altitudinis, rarius acaules, locis sylvaticis humentibus calidis 
sparse vel subcespitose degentes. Caudex, exceptis annulis, undique aculeis validis 
atris horridus, Frondes omnes terminales, pinnate, pinnis linearibus, ma 
tis, aculeato-ciliatis, subtus plerumque argenteo-albis ; petiolis aculeatis. Spadices 
simpliciter ramosi, aculeis vel setis horridi, sepius albo-tomentosi, spathis lignes- 
centibus aculeatis inclusi, inter frondes persistentes. Flores masculi flavescentes, 
densi, spicati, profunde immersi ; feminei virescenti- vel ochroleuco-pallidi. Drupe 
_ vel aurantiace, fibroso-carnose, calyce persistente stipate, mermes vel spinu- 
. Kth, 
Asrrocaryum rostratum ; candice brevi, foliis lato-oblongis apice fissis, pinnis 
linearibus sepissime connatis acuminatis aculeato-ciliatis subtus albo-furfura- 
ceis, stipitibus rachique subtus spathisque cymbiformibus rostratis horride 
patentissime aculeatis, spadicis pedunculo aculeis erectis, florum masculorum 
alveolis margine’dense albo-lanatis, calycibus minutis foemineorum sessilium 
solitariis, drupis obovatis rostratis dense setoso-aculeatis, aculeis patentis- 
simis. 
ms in the noble house recently built for their reception 
yal Gardens of Kew, are beginning to feel the benefit 
H Ist, 1854. 
