MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 47 
tion from tub culture to the more natural one of planting 
directly in the ground. In the present spacious palm house 
the roots are not confined, and in consequence of the un- 
limited supply of food a number of specimens have more 
than doubled their size. This increased stimulus to roots 
and foliage has naturally brought about the attempt to per- 
petuate the species through the medium of flowers and fruit. 
In most palms the stamens and pistils are borne on sep- 
arate flowers, frequently making it difficult to differentiate 
the sexes. While the individual flowers are generally not 
showy, the protective covering known as the bracts and the 
stems supporting the seeds are often highly colored. The 
seed capsules are sometimes used for ornaments, especially 
those of imbricated formation like those figured in the Sep- 
oa sy 1914, number of the Butietin (plate 7, figs. 1 
an g 
The most noteworthy specimen in the palm collection 
flowering for the first time is the giant “toddy palm,” Arenga 
saccharifera, presented to the Garden by Mr. D. S. Brown 
in 1913 (plate 19, October, 1913, Buttery). Indications 
of flowering were noted several months ago by the stunted 
formation of the terminal leaves, and recently six flower 
spikes have appeared in succession. The lowest raceme was 
e first to appear and is bearing twenty spikes of incon- 
picuous dark green flowers, the spikes measuring four to 
five feet in length. Upon development of the raceme the 
globular staminate flowers immediately fall off, leaving the 
undeveloped pistillate flowers. The arrangement of these 
flowers is shown in the accompanying illustration (plate 14, 
fig. 2), the spike at the left showing the staminate flowers 
on each side of the pistillate flowers, the other showing the 
pistillate flowers after llination and dropping off of stam- 
inate flowers. This palm is native of the Philippine Islands, 
where it is known as “ejow” or “gomuti palm.” It is the 
source of native palm sugar, or Jaggery, the plant dying 
after being tapped. 
Phoenix reclinata, planted in the extreme northeast corner 
of the house, is showing several large flower spikes, strongly 
resembling at a distance the spikes of ornamental grasses. 
The flowers soon after opening reveal a copious supply of 
white pollen, which presents a strong contrast to the large, 
bright scarlet, overhanging bracts. his species is closely 
related to the common date palm. 
The various species of Chamaedorea are showing flowers 
d fruit, ran from freshly developed, small yellow 
howe to Sally mameted fruit. The ot are ornamental, 
