NOTES ON PHILIPPINE PALMS, II. 629 



Calamus Merrillii Becc. in Webbia 1 (1905) 07 et in Ann. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 



1 1 : tab. 167. 



To this species is referable a line fruiting specimen with an entire spadix 

 collected by Loher at Montalban, Province of Ri/al, Luzon, July, 1905, [Ho. 7076 

 in Herb. Kew. ) . 



Of this specimen the sheathed stem is 6 to 7 cm in diameter. The 

 fruiting spadix is robust, nodding. 1.3 m long, including a terminal, tail- 

 like, flattened, subulate appendix, which is formed of several tightly 

 sheathing, smooth, or slightly prickly spathes-; it is divided into 8 gradu- 

 ally diminishing, spreading, and arched partial inflorescences, of which 

 the largest (which are also the lowest) are 35 to 40 cm in Length. The 

 lowest spathe is strongly flattened, 3 to 3.5 cm broad, two-edged (the 

 edges sharp and without spines). 16 to 17 cm long, very tightly sheathing, 

 slightly obliquely truncate at the mouth, and very sparingly armed with 

 a few straight small spines; the other primary spathes are tubular, more 

 or less longitudinally split, obliquely truncate at the mouth, prolonged 

 above at one side into an acuminate, dorsally keeled point, and bearing 

 irregularly distributed, small, broad-based, and subbulbous horizontal 

 prickles. The largest partial inflorescences carry 10 to 13 spikelets on 

 each side and terminate in a small smooth tail-like appendix; the 

 secondary spathes are truncate at the mouth, and prolonged at one side 

 into a broad triangular point; they are either quite smooth or have at 

 most one or two rudimentary or tuberculiform prickles. The spikelets 

 are 8 to 9 cm in length, slightly flattened, 8 mm broad between the 

 spathels (not taking into account the flowers). Fruit spherical, with a 

 rather thick and blunt beak on the top, about 12 mm in diameter. Leaves 

 as already described (in Ann. Bot. Gard. Calcutta I. c.) ; the rachis in 

 the lower and intermediate parts is rather deeply channelled above ; leaflets 

 3 to 3.5 cm apart on each side, with bristles which may reach 3 cm in 

 length. 



The type specimens of C. Merrillii were Merrill 1893 from Boaoboso, Province 

 Rizal, Luzon, male plant, and Loher 1.161 (Herb. Kew.), in fruit. 



Calamus Merrittianus Becc. in Philip. Journ. Sci. 2 (1907) Bot. 233. 



I refer to this species specimens collected at Camp Keithley. Lake Lanao. 

 Mindanao, by Mrs. Mary Strong Clemens, in June. 1907, (Nos. 1112 and 1124) • 

 they differ, however, from the type plant found by Merritt in MlNDOBO, (For. Bur. 

 3912), in the spathes being less densely set with prickles; therefore presenting a 

 transitional form between V. MerrittiantU and O. Merrillii. Perhaps V. Mcrril- 

 tiawus is only a geographical variety of G. Merrillii. 



Calamus grandifolius Becc. sp. now 



Robustus et ecandens, caudice vaginato 4 cm diametro; vagina tenuiter 

 lignosa. densissime spinis nigris tenuissimis, 25-30 mm longis, armata; 

 ocrea breviter Ligulaeformi, hispida. Folia ampla, 1.7 m in parte pin- 

 nifera longa, cirro robusto valde acnleato terminata; petiolo robusto, 



