546 Cook : A Synopsis of the 



ligule is much like that of Tkrincoma alta, though scarcely as 

 large in proportion to the size of the leaf. 



The lower surface is clothed with a satiny, appressed grayish 

 pubescence somewhat less pronounced than that of Thrincoma alta. 

 As in that species the veinules are of equal size, but they are more 

 widely separated, and the wavy and usually somewhat oblique 

 transverse veinules are easily distinguishable on both sides of the 

 dried leaf. There are also slight traces of wax on the ligule and 

 in the grooves of the upper surface. The median divisions are 

 united for distinctly more than one-third their length. 



The spathes and spadix are distinctly larger than those of 

 Thrincoma alta, but the fruits are, unfortunately, quite immature 

 and contain only shriveled seeds. The pedicels of the fruits are 

 2-4 mm. long and bear, usually near the middle, a very slender 

 bract 1-2 mm. long. 



This species is apparently distinct from Thringis laxa in the 

 larger size and firmer texture of the leaves. It differs in the longer 

 pedicels of the fruits, with their longer and more slender bracts, 

 from a specimen belonging to the New York Botanical Garden and 

 supposed to have been collected by Mr. A. A. Heller, though the 

 number (3278) indicates that it may belong to the Sintenis series. 



This consists of a single, short, once-branched inflorescence 

 arising from two fibrous spathes. The fruits are about 4 mm. in 

 diameter, nearly spherical, distinctly apiculate, deep reddish brown 

 in color and borne on pedicels 2-3 mm. long, with a bract 1 mm. 

 long or less at or below the middle. The seeds are 2-2.5 mm. in 

 diameter ; the surface is smooth and shining and light brown in 

 color ; general shape spherical but with deep folds and convolu- 

 tions. 



No leaves are known in connection with this specimen, and the 

 exact locality is also in doubt. Mr. Heller believes, however, 

 that the inflorescence came from a small T/iriu ax-like palm grow- 

 ing in the limestone hills a few miles to the east of San Juan. 



Family ARECACEAE 

 A large family, with abundant genera in the tropics of America 

 and Asia, but absent from tropical Africa. The Puerto Rico 

 representatives may be recognized very easily by the fact that the 



