118 cook: a new genus of palms 



The derivation of the generic name refers to the strap-like form of 

 the fibers surrounding the seed. In addition to the type, Loroma 

 amethystina, known from cultivated plants in California, a second 

 species, Loroma cunninghamiana {Ptychosperma cunninghamiana 

 Wendl.), from northern Australia, is referable to this genus. 



SYNOPTICAL KEY TO LOROMA AND ALLIED GENERA 



Pistillode of the staminate flower similar to the fertile pistil, bearing 

 three distinct rudimentary stigmas, these much exceeded by the stamens; 

 seed protected by a layer of broad, strap-like fibers Loroma. 



Pistillode unlike the fertile pistil, bearing a long filiform style, this 

 exceeding the stamens; seed with a coat of slender fibers 1. 



1. Seeds oval, the surface even, without longitudinal furrows, en- 

 closed in a thin bony endocarp, readil}'^ separable from a distinct woody 

 seed-coat Archontophoenix. 



1. Seeds with distinct longitudinal furrows, both endocarp and 

 seed-coats thin and membranous 2. 



2. Trunk extremely slender; leaves with remote pinnae; filaments 

 shorter than the anthers; fruits oblong-oval, very strongly apicu- 

 late Ptychosperma. 



2. Trunk moderately robust; leaves with crowded pinnae; filaments 

 longer than the anthers; fruit spherical or somewhat depressed, slightly 

 apiculate Seaforthia, 



The type of the genus Loroma is L. amethystina, cultivated in Cali- 

 fornia, probably from Australia; of Archontophoenix, A. alexandrae 

 (Mueller) Wendl. & Drude, from. Australia , of Ptychosperma, P. gracilis 

 LabilL, from New Caledonia; of Seaforthia, S. elegans R. Br., from 

 Australia. 



Loroma amethystina Cook, sp. nov. 



* Trunk attaining a height of 8-10 meters and upward, the largest 



trunks about 30 cm. in diameter at the base, tapering above to 15-20 cm. 



Leaf sheath 96 cm. long, the outer surface reddish, with numerous 

 purplish-brown scales; texture rather thin, but tough and leathery. 

 Petiole 9 cm. long, 4 cm. wide. Blade 2 meters long and more, with 

 70-80 pinnae on each side, the basal and terminal pinnae much nar- 

 rower and shorter than the others. Lowest pinnae 24 cm. long, 0.4 

 cm. wide, or sometimes only 0.2 cm. wide; fifth pinnae 36 cm. long, 

 1.3 cm. wide; middle pinnae about 80 cm. long, 4.5 cm. wide; sub- 

 terminal pinnae about 30 cm. long, 1.4 cm. wide; terminal 1 cm. wide. 

 Midribs of pinnae with long coarse scales beneath. Rachis triangular, 

 convex below, sharply carinate above, the insertions of pinnae very 

 deeply folded. Tips of leaves very slender and drooping, usually 

 turned on edge (as in Attalea cohune or Phoenix canariensis) . 



Inflorescences developed in the axils of living leaves, but not ap- 



