NOTES ON PHILIPPINE PALMS, II. 609 



Xormanbya {Ptyehoaperma) Muelleri from New Guinea, with which it exactly 

 agrees in the structure of the fruit, which is ruminate and terete and no* deeply 

 sulfite as in the typical species of Ptyohosperma. From Normanbya MueUeri 

 however it differs in the leaflets, which in that palm are set in groups, while 



they are equidistant in V. Merrillii. Furthermore the termination of the leaflets 

 of \. Merrillii is not the same as in .V. Muelleri and in all species of Ptychoe- 

 perma, which have leaflets praemorse at the tip; those of N. Merrillii having a 

 bifid apex. It is however, very evident that this structure is derived from thai 

 found in several species of Piijchosj>erma, where the two margins of the leaflets 

 are more or less prolonged into a double acuminate point; in addition the 

 uppermost leaflets in A. Merrillii are distinctly praemorse. 



The genus Normanbya is distinguishable from IHychospernm only by its terete, 

 not longitudinally grooved seed, but though very similar in all other character- 

 istics to this, it is perhaps better to keep it as a separate genus, for if we refuse 

 to ettach any value to the characters derived from the form and rumination of 

 the seed, we' shall find ourselves obliged to consider the genua Ptyohosperma as 

 an amalgamation of heterogeneous palms. 



ONCOSPERMA Blume. 



Oncosperma platyphyllum Becc. sp. nov. 



Gracile et subclatum ( ?) . Folia elongata ; vagina rubiginose f urf nracea 

 et spiculis nigris gracillimis armata; petiolo brevissimo; rhachi subiner- 

 mi ; segmentis numerosis aequidistantibus, 4-5 cm inter se dissitis, ensifor- 

 niibus,°acummatis; intermediis 60 cm longis, 4-4.5 cm latis; superioribus 

 et basilaribus angustioribus et valde brevioribus. Spadix comparate inter 

 affines brevis, ramulis floriferis 27-28 cm longis, 5-6 mm spissis, apicem 

 versus paullo attenuatis, profunde crebreque scrobiculatia, pulvinulis 

 floralibus orbieularibus, 2 mm latis. Fructus 5-seriati, sphaerici, 14-15 

 mm diametro, stigmatum residuis lateralibus. Perianthium fructiferum 

 9-10 mm diametro. 



Apparently not a large tree, about of the size of 0. gracttipes. Leaves 

 elongate, with numerous equidistant leaflets; leaf-sheaths finely rusty- 

 furfuraceous, strongly striated externally and more or less covered with 

 very slender needle-like, unequal, brittle, black, shining spicule, which 

 vary in length from a few mm to 2 m; similar spiculae are to be found 

 near the margins of the petiole on its under surface and a few are 

 scattered along the under surface of the rachis ; the petiole is very short, 

 2.5 to 3 cm broad, rounded beneath, Hat above. The intermediate leaflets 

 are GO cm long, 4 to 4.5 cm broad, 4 to 5 cm apart, ensiform, straight, 

 acuminate, longitudinally plicate along 2 or 3 secondary nerves on each 

 side of the midcosta; upper and lower leaflets narrower and much shorter. 

 Spadix apparently not very large; the few flower-bearing branches seen 

 by me are abont 27 cm long, 5 to 6 mm thick, narrowing a little toward 

 the apex, very closely and regularly grooved by 5 longitudinal rows of 

 orbicular, slightly concave scrobieuli, which have below them a con- 

 spicuous, triangular, acute, horizontal or slightly deflexed bract; the 

 circular scar left by the fallen fruits is 2 mm in diameter. Fruit (when 



89217 2 



