sidered to be peculiar to Brazil. Of the present one a solitary 
habitat is given by Martius, namely, “the sandy, maritime shores 
of St. Sebastian.” 
Dezscr. Stemless. A short, horizontal caudex appears above 
ground, annulated or scarred transversely with the marks of for- 
mer fronds, rooting below. Fronds three to four feet long, erecto- 
patent, rigid. Pefiole more than half as long as the foliaceous 
portion, angular, below connected by transverse fibrous web. 
Pinne narrow, linear-lanceolate, solitary, or two to four proceed- 
ing from the same point, all very much acuminated. Peduncle 
shorter than the petioles, compressed. Spatha four to five inches 
long, boat-shaped, acuminate; interior sheathing the peduncle 
within. owers forming a close spike on the spadix, of a pale, 
rather dingy yellow colour. In our specimen they seemed to be 
all male flowers, each consisting of a monophyllous calyx, with 
three deep ovate acuminate lobes ; corolla of the same shape and 
colour. Sfamens twelve to fourteen or fifteen. Filaments subu- 
late, short. Anther oblong, yellow ; no trace of pistil. 
Fig. 1. Flower. 2. Stamens :—magnified. 
