cook: glaucothea, a new genus of palms 241 



the same as in Erythea, but the spathes do not stand in the same re- 

 lation with the branches. At the base of the inflorescence there are 

 several spathes without branches, and at the end of the inflorescence 

 many branches without spathes. The number of primary branches 

 is greater in Glaucothea, not being limited by the number of spathes. 



OTHER RELATED PALMS 



The relationships of Erythea and Glaucothea lie on the one side 

 with the fan-palms of the Pacific islands and on the other side with 

 those of Mexico and Central America. In its very large fruits and 

 thick exocarp, Erythea represents the extreme of the American series, 

 and the nearest approach to the Pacific island fan-palms. The foliage 

 is somewhat similar, and the very abundant scaly tomentum of the 

 petioles and spathes is another common feature; but the sepals of the 

 American genera are not thick and woody nor completely coalesced 

 to form a deep cup, as in the Pacific island genus.^ 



The genus Brahea may be considered as the nearest Mexican rela- 

 tive of Glaucothea. It shares with Glaucothea the slender exserted 

 inflorescence, with several empty spathes below the branches. But 

 the species of Brahea are smaller and more slender palms, with small 

 narrowly oval fruits, and the albumen grooved on one side like that of 

 the date palm. 



* It has long been known that the name Pritchardia is incorrectly applied to 

 the Pacific Island palms, but no satisfactory substitute seems to have been 

 proposed. To supply this deficiencj" the new name Styloma is suggested, in 

 allusion to the large indurated styles. The type species is Styloma pacifica 

 {Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & Wendl.), from the Fiji Islands. Fifteen other 

 species are known, as recognized in Beccari's revision of the genus (Webbia, 

 4: 220-240. 1913), nine of these being from the Hawaiian Islands, and six from 

 other parts of Polynesia; all were described originally under Pritchardia. The 

 Hawaiian species of Styloma are as follows : S. hillebrandi, S. gaudichaudii, 

 S. martii, S. arecina, S. rockiana, S. lanigera, S. eriostachys, S. eriophora and 

 S. minor. The remaining species are: S. thurstonii, from Fiji; S. vuylstekeana 

 and S. periculariun, from Pomotu; S. remota, from Bird Island; S. maideniana 

 dottbtfuUy reported from Melanesia; and S. insignis, of unknown origin. Bec- 

 cari also unites with Pritchardia the Cuban genus Colpothrinax, but this should 

 be retained as distinct from Styloma. 



