Phenix. DIOECIA HEXANDRIA, 785 
2. PB. farinifera, Willd. iv, 731, R, Corom. pl. i. N74, 
Stem scarcely any. . Leaves pinnate ; leaflets PPR rl; 
gid, the lower pair ending in spines, 
Phoenix pusilla, Gert, Sem, i, t, 29. Lourier, Cochin, Ch. 
753. = 
Teling. Chilta-cita, 
This dwarf species of the date tree isa native of, ios bar. 
ren ground, chiefly of the sandy lands at a small distance 
from the sea near Coringa, It flowers in iiatabls and. Fe- 
brnary. The fruit ripens in May. 
Trunk, the little it has is only about one or at most a 
feet high, and so entirely enveloped in the sheaths of the 
leaves that it is never seen, the whole appearing like a large 
round bush. Leaves pinnate. Leaflets opposite, sword. 
shaped, much pointed, smooth, of a deep green. Spathes axil- 
lary, one-valved, concave on the inside, fitting the trunk. or 
base of the leaf immediately within it; this concavity is bor- 
dered by two sharp edges ; convex on the outside, there split- 
ting longitudinally, leathery, smooth, withering. Spadix 
erect, very ramous, branches simple, spreading in every direg- 
tion, from eight to twelve inches long. Mate FLowERs, Ca- 
lyx small, slightly three-toothed. Petals three, oblong, white, | 
rigid, Filaments six, very short, inserted into.a fleshy glébu- 
lar receptacle. Anthers oblong, erect, FEMALE FLOWERS on 
a separate plant, . Calyx asabove, Petals three, orbicular, 
concave, equal, rigid, lasting. Germs three, though never 
more than one ever increases in size, the other: two always 
wither, although they contain the rudiment of a seed every 
way like the fertile germ; ovate, each ending in a short 
recurved style. Stigmasimple. Berry when ripe, ofa shin- 
ing black, of the size of a large French bean; the puép is 
sweet and mealy, but in small quantity, the natives eat them 
as gathered from the bush without any preparation, Seed 
cartilaginous, of the shape of the berry, grooved longitudinal- 
ly,asin the common date, pretty smooth, brown on the outside, 
of a light grayish white within, on the middle of, the back 
VOL, 111, aU 
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