Willd. (Borassus pinnatifrons, Jacg. Hort. Schenbr. v. 2. p. 247 
and 249); but there the spadices originate on the naked caudex, 
much below the fronds, and are erect, both male and female ; 
not drooping, as in our plant. C. elegans flowers in the winter 
and spring months. 
Descr. Maze: Onur living plant has a caudex between three 
and four feet high, annulated with the scars of fallen leaves, 
rooting from above the base, slender, erect, an inch and a half 
in diameter, crowned with a tuft of six to eight eaves or fronds, 
which are nearly three feet long, pinnated with about fourteen, 
more or less broadly lanceolate, subfalcate, striated leaflets, the 
uppermost or terminal pair more or less combined. Pefiole not 
one-fourth the length of the blade, triquetrous, grooved above, 
the lower portion forming a somewhat inflated sheath around 
the stem. From the axils of two or three of the lower leaves a 
spatha arises ; this consists of two or three long, imbricating, 
tubular, sheathing scales, open at the extremities, and from this 
the long panicle of flowers depends, almost as long as the leaves. 
The dranches are slender, terete, flexuose, almost filiform, green, 
studded with small flowers, but conspicuous from the rich orange- 
colour of the corollas. Calyx scarcely immersed, yet situated in 
a small depression, cup-shaped, trifid, white, the lobes round. 
Petals three, combined at the. base, cymbiform, thick, erecto- 
patent, bright orange. Stamens six, not longer than the petals. 
Anther oblong. _Rudiment of the pistid oblong, tapering, with a 
triangular jagged stigma. 
Fig. 1. Portion of a panicle of male flowers :—wat. size. 2. Portion of the 
rachis, with flowers. 3, Single flower magnified. 
