ILOKA OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
205 
several processes. The leaves are gatliered before they unfold, all their ribs and coarser veins removed, uud 
the rest, without being separated from the base of the loaf, i^ reduced to shreds. After having been put in 
the sun for a day, and tied into a knot, the straw is immersed in boiling vrater untU it becomes white. 
It is then hun- up in a shady place, and subsequently bleached for two orthrce days. The straw i8 now 
ready for use, and in this state sent to different places, especially to Peru, where the Indians mannfactim- 
from it, besides hats, those beautiful cigar-cases, which fetch sometunes more than £G apiece. The plaiting 
of the hats is done on a block, which is placed upon the knees ; it commences at the crown, and fim^^lie. 
at the brim. According to the quality of the hats, more or less time is occupied in their completion : the 
coarser ones may be finished in two or three days, the finest take as many months. The best times for 
plaiting are the morning hours and the raiuy season, when the air is moist: in the middle of the day and 
ill dry clear weather, the straw is apt to break, which, when the hats are fini=ihed, is betrayed by knots, and 
much diminishes their value. 
930. Cabludovica Plumierii, Kunth, Enum. vol. iii. p. 106, Southern Darien, on trees. 
931. Carludoyica angustifolia, Ruiz et Pav., Kunth, Eniun. vol. iii. p. lOG.— On rocks on 
ri\Tilets, Cape Corrientes, Darien. 
933. Cyclanthus bipartitus ?, Poit., Kunth, Enum. vol. iii. p. 108. In shady places, banks of 
the river Pequeni, Province of Panama. 
PIIYTELEPHANTHEiE. 
PHYTELEPHAS.-CAac. Geti. emend. Flares polygamo-dioici ; mascnli et fccmiuci, cum stanunibus, 
qnornm antherse steriles, in distinctis spadicibus, spathis incU.sis. Spath^e plurim^e, conace^, longitu- 
dinaliter ncrvos^e, eylindricse. MASC.:-Sp«rf« specie simplex, ejllndriens, ped^.nculo sqnamis non- 
nullis instructo, rhacld floribus densissime obtecto. Flares in prominentiis rhacbcos brevibus (ranns 
decm-tatis) ai-cte glomerati, bractea et calyce minimis saepe delitescentibus. Braetea ovata, concava. 
Senala tria : duo lateralia majora, bracte=B similia, tertium posticum iUis tectum. Stam^nu nume- 
rosa (36) e tboro. Filamenia filiformia. Anther,^ lineares, erects, fere basifix*, bdoculares, con- 
nectivo mucronulata.. Pollen ellipticum, longitudinaliter sulcatum. Fa=M. -.-Spadi^ simplex, syua- 
mis compluribus spiratim dispositis obsessus, vertice florcs nonnullos gcrens, inter squamas abscond,- 
tos qui constant pistiUo et staminibus numcrosis illud cingentibus, antbens stcnlibus Ovanum. 
subglobosum, loculis 6-9. Stylus terminalis, erectus, apice tripartitus, erunbus subulatis, umco 
simplici rariusve bifido, binis bifidis, di^isionibus intus stigmatosis. Ovula sohtana, sessilia, 
erecta, integumento dupHci. Dmp<e (6-7) in eapitulum maximum ponderosum aggregata=, de- 
presso-globoT., deorsum cuncato-angulata,, subpentagona=, muricato-tuberculat. et mature eras o- 
! ticatl tubcrculis sursum majoribus; longitudinaUter fibrosis et ex parte supra vcrt.cem fructus 
eonverge;tibns ; 6-9-locularcs. Semiua in loculis solitaria, e fructus ang^is centrahbns obbque 
adseendentia h lo magno convexo cicatricoso, oblongo-obovata, introrsum Ufaaal.a T.s/a crassa, 
osrS" ta; membrana interna vasis ramosis pcrcursa. Altumen osseum, soMum. En^ryo 
perilerirut j-ta bilum subbasilaris. Germinatio per ehordam elongatam remot.va.-Plant=e 
ZSZL: caudice medioeri, crasso, erecto .el decund>ente. Frondes on.nes t.-r,unaUsrnasn., 
Sr« segner.tU reduplicoiU, nuatinervus et .enu transreMs eonsp,cu., ilonbus odorat^ss.n^s. 
933. PnvTB..PH..s macroearpa, Kui. et Pav. (Tab. XLV XLVI. XLVII.), HnmK et Kunth 
Nov. Gen. vol. i. p. 83!-Kuntb, Enum. vol. iii. p. 109 !-M^. Palm. vol. m. p. 306!-Hook, 
