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VI. On a New Species of Cycas from Southern India. By W. Т. THISELTON DYER, 
M.A., C.M.G., EES: 
(Plate XVII.) 
Read May 3rd, 1883. 
‘THE discovery of а new species belonging to the Cycadec is always a notable fact, and 
in this case it is the more interesting as the Indian peninsula has always been regarded 
as, at the best, poorly furnished with representatives of Gymnosperms. 
Southern India appears to possess three species of the genus Cycas. С. circinalis, L., 
is well known as a native of Malabar. С. squamosa, Lodd., is probably distinct; but it 
is at present very imperfectly known. I have given its horticultural history, as far as 
I have been able to make it out, in the ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’ for August 27, 1881. 
Besides these, Colonel Beddome has mentjoned in his * Forester's Manual of Botany 
for Southern India' (p. cexxvii) a third. I will quote his words :— 
* A ....species, which I take to be C. revoluta, is common on the Cuddapah and 
other hills on the east side of the Presidency; its leaflets are very narrow, with revolute 
margins, and the costa not prominent and raised beneath. I have, however, never seen 
it in flower." 
The native country of Cycas revoluta, if not some of the Japanese islands, is almost 
certainly in Eastern Asia; and it seemed exceedingly unlikely that Colonel Beddome's 
plant could be that species. Not having seen a specimen, I applied to him for one ; and 
this he very kindly furnished me with from his own herbarium. It consisted merely of 
а frond; but this appeared to me to be in many respects quite distinct from C. revoluta, 
I was anxious to obtain plants for cultivation, as well as the male and female inflo- 
rescences. For copious examples of all of these I have to thank H. H. Yarde, Esq., the 
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Cuddapah division. From the material so obtained the 
plate and the following description have been prepared. 
The species is so distinct in habit that it is difficult to indicate its relationship ; 
but on the whole it appears to me that it might be regarded as a very reduced form of 
C. circinalis, its Malabar congener, though differing from it in many striking par- 
ticulars. 
Cycas BEDDoMEI, Dyer, sp. nov.; foliorum segmentis numerosissimis linearibus spinoso- 
acuminatis margine revolutis, infimis abbreviatis ad spinulas repente reductis, petiolo 
versus basim inermi, strobilo masculo oblongo-ovoideo subsessili, squamis e basi 
obovato-deltoidea longe acuminatis primum fusco-pubescentibus deinde glabres- 
centibus basi strobili rectis deinde apicem versus valde deflexis, carpophyllis ferru- 
gineo-pubescentibus longe lingulatis supra medium 4 semina gerentibus in laminam 
ovato-lanceolatam longe acuminatam  dentato-lobatam  desinentibus, senioribus 
glabris. 
© 
SECOND SERIES.— BOTANY, VOL, 11. Р 
