Palms of Puerto Rico 635 



covery of numerous and diverse species has resulted in proposi- 

 tions for subdivision and segregation on the part of several botan- 

 ists. As usual these new groups have been characterized very in- 

 adequately, and that mostly from the flowers and seeds, and with 

 no attempt at establishing correlations of habit or other vegetative 

 features without which the classification is likely to remain formal 

 and artificial, as well as useless for popular and field study. Pos- 

 sibly no ecological differences exist among the Tkrinax-like palms 

 of other regions, but in Puerto Rico there are, as shown in the dis- 

 cussion of the following genus, two well-defined types, one of 

 which varies the ordinary short columnar habit by the possession 

 of a tall slender and flexible trunk which doubtless enables it to 

 compete in a measure with the rapid growth of the surrounding 

 vegetation, and which is also obviously adapted for withstanding 

 the force of the strong winds encountered in the exposed places 

 apparently preferred by palms of this species. 



The type of the genus Thrinax is the Jamaican T. parviflora, a 

 tree 3 to 6 metres high with the trunk swollen at base. The leaves 

 are said to be 30-60 cm. long with rigid lanceolate divisions ; 

 the stipes longer than the leaves, terete-compressed. The spadix 

 is said to be terminal, nearly erect and 60-90 cm. long. The 

 tree grows in dry maritime situations in Jamaica and Santo 

 Domingo. It does not appear that the original specimens of this 

 species have been examined by Sargent or other recent writers, 

 but it seems reasonable to use the name for the group of short 

 species with uniform albumen and a basal cavity instead of a com- 

 plete perforation. Swartz's statement regarding the seed " intus 

 albus, medio ruber," in connection with its context " nanco ossco 

 fragile tectus" might possibly be rendered " white inside, red be- 

 tween " and might refer to the red coat of the seed rather than to 

 a red center as commonly inferred. Of course Swartz might have 

 cut his seed transversely, but if so he would doubtless have dis- 

 covered and noted the perforation had one existed. Patrick 

 Brown's account of the Jamaica species, cited by Swartz, evidently 

 refers to a palm with the habits of T. Poiiceana. On the other hand 

 the " very slender " palm referred to under this name in the Jamaica 

 Bulletin (1 : 196. 1894) shows greater similarity with Thrin- 

 coma. 



