62 MB. E. SPEUCE ON LEOPOLDINIA PIASSABA. 



able range of distribution in latitude, and apparently a very 

 limited one in longitude, extending all along the eastern roots of 

 the Andes, from a good way up the Huallaga, on the south, to 

 the sources of the Bombonasa, and how much further northward 

 I know not ; but I have myself seen it through nearly six degrees 

 of latitude. It is particularly abundant on low alluvial ridges 

 strewed with pebbles of auriferous quartz near Paca-yacu, on the 

 Bombonasa, and near Chapaja, on the Huallaga ; but it nowhere 

 descends into the Amazonian plain, nor have I seen it higher 

 among the hills than about 2000 feet. This palm is a true Attalea, 

 which I suppose distinct from A. fimifera Mart., because the fruit 

 is of a different form, and because Martins assigns a submaritime 

 habitat to his palm. It is known to the inhabitants of Maynas 

 by the name of ' Biroti-hudsi^ {Biroti, the darts used in shooting 

 with the blowing-cane, and hudsi, a habitation), because they 

 make their Biroti of strips of the petiole. The beard is deciduous 

 — not persistent, as in the Piassaba — shorter, far less copious, and 

 apparently less durable. It makes, however, excellent brooms, 

 which is the only use I have seen it turned to. In the Quitenian 

 Andes a very similar broom is made of the base of the petiole of 

 the Cadi palm (Phytelephas macrocarpa) ; but the decayed paren- 

 chyma requires to be combed away from the fibres ere they can 

 be well put to this use. 



I proceed to give the dimensions of a Piassaba palm which I 

 cut down in the forests of the Guainia, in November 1854 ; fol- 

 lowed by a detailed description of the same species, drawn up from 

 fresh specimens. 



Caudex, 40 ft. Fronds, 151—16^ ft. (including petiole of 4 ft. 

 8 inches). Pinnae, 63 pairs. Beard, 21 inches long (but on young 

 plants growing close by as much as 4 feet 9 inches long). Spadix, 

 4 ft.; stipes (to first branch), 15 inches, 10 Hnes broad, 4^ lines 

 thick ; remains of two spathes, 5 inches apart. Fruit (not ripe), 

 21 lines long, 18 lines broad, 15 lines thick. 



Leopoldinia Piassaba, Wallace, JPalm Trees of the Amazon, 

 p. 17. 



Piagaba Brasihensium. Chiquichiqui* Orinocensium. 



Hab, Per tractus sylvarum Amazoniensium a flu vie Padauiri ad Orinoci 



* The name ' Chiquichiqui ' originated on the Orinoco ; but I am ignorant to 

 what Indian language it belongs. 



