192 MR. SPETJCE ON FIVE NEW PLANTS FROM EASTERN PERU. 



tubular, entire sheaths ; and the broad pinnae are prsemorse, and 

 cut at the extremity. It differs notably from the Iriarteas, in 

 the short spadices, so densely clad with hairy fruits as to have 

 suggested to the prurient imagination of the Peruvians the name 

 by which this palm is known in Maynas — FuUo-coroto (i. e. 

 "testiculihirti"). 



Wettinia Maynensis differs from W. augusta chiefly in the more 

 numerous pinnae (38-40 pairs, while in W. augusta they are but 

 18-20 pairs), and in the spadices, which are only three from one 

 leaf-ring, and put forth 5-8 fastigiate branches at their apex ; 

 while in W. augusta they are simple, and as many as from 8 to 15 

 grow from the same ring. There is a further difference, in the 

 spathes, which in W. Maynensis are 6 in number, the three outer 

 (corresponding to what are called by Martins in other genera 

 " spathsB incompletse") much smaller, and persisting on the pe- 

 duncle in the form of sheaths ; while the three inner and larger 

 ones (" spathae completae") fall away before the fruit is ripe, or 

 persist only in fragments. In W. augusta the spathes are said to 

 be two, and the peduncle is said to be furnished with remote 

 coriaceous sheaths — undoubtedly the remains of the incomplete 

 spathes. In both specimens the sepals vary in number, and the 

 stamens are from 12 to 16, nor does there seem to be much dif- 

 ference in the form of the fruit ; but in W. Maynensis the arilli- 

 form raphe is in every stage thin and papery, while in W. augusta 

 it is fleshy. In Endlicher's description, the scale-like external 

 sepals are considered bracts ; but as they quite correspond to what 

 are called sepals in other palms, I describe them as such. 



On comparing Endlicher's description of the ovary of W. au- 

 gusta with that of W. Maynensis, given below, there is an apparent 

 difference, which at first sight might be supposed even generic ; 

 but when the two species come to be compared, I expect it will 

 turn out to be no difference at all. In W. augusta the ovary is 

 said to be solitary, and the style is inserted " prope ovarii basin 

 eodem cum ovulo latere" — an abnormal position in palms. In 

 W. Maynensis the ovaries are 3, concrete at the base with each 

 other and the central style ; two of them are mostly sterile, and 

 at the time of ripe fruit might be taken for a mere thickening of 

 the base of the style, along with which they persist, of course 

 laterally to the fertile carpel. I have no doubt that the same 

 structure obtains in W. augusta, and that the sterile ovaries are 

 either obsolete or have been overlooked from their minuteness. 



From the detailed description of W. Maynensis, an idea may be 



