Palms of Puerto Rico 545 



fruits, subapical embryo, and other differences separate this genus 



from Coccothrinax. 



Thringis laxa sp. no v. 



The trunk is columnar or somewhat enlarged upward, about 

 3.6 m. high and 12 cm. in diameter. Surrounding its base was 

 a dense turf of fine upright rootlets. The bark was rough and 



nmose. 



The leaves are similar to those of T. latifrons, but smaller, the 

 segments being about 70 cm. long by 33 mm. wide. The size of 

 leaves is thus about the same as those of Thrincoma alta, but the 

 texture is thin and flexible, the veinules being slender and not 

 prominent on either side. The pubescence is much thinner than 

 that of T. alta and of a silvery-gray color. 



A palm collected in December, 1 899, at Vega Baja, but without 

 fruit (no. 1041). The habit and trunk are not those of Thrincoma, 

 but the form and texture of the leaves and ligule associate the 

 species with Thrincoma alta rather than with the palms here 

 placed in Thrinax. 



The columnar habit and protected habitat are reflected in the 

 small ligule, 18 mm. across, and the relatively broad petiole, 13 

 mm. wide. It appears from the dried specimens of this species 

 and T. latifrons that the leaves may have been "full," or irregu- 

 larly folded, instead of strictly and equally expanded as in Thrin- 

 coma alta, and the greater width of the segments is a further 

 indication of this possibility. The rigidity of the leaf of Thrincoma 

 alta can be maintained because the segments are narrow and do 

 not open widely. 



The soft texture of the leaves of this palm is recognized by 

 the natives who use it for making hats and call it " yaray " the 

 same name which is applied in this part of the island to Inodcs 

 causiarnm. 



Thringi 



The leaves, inflorescence and young plants of a palm collected 



Monte 



larger and coarser than those of Thrincoma alta. The total length 

 of the middle segments of the leaf would be over a meter, and the 



5 



The thickness of the 



Petiole at the base of the ligule is over 10 mm. The form of the 



