THE PALMS OF BlUTISR INDIA AND CEYLON. (U 



Dutch : Meelboom, uieelgevende paliiiboom, moluksche palm- 

 boom, sagoboom, sagoeboom, sagopalm. 



Names of the Flouk. 



Eiujlish : Sago, sago floiir. 

 French : Fariue de sagon. 



German : Ostindische Graiipen, Ostindische Tapiocca, Ostindi- 

 scher Sago, PahneustJirke, Sago, Sagosttirke. 



Diitch : Bloem van sago, oostiudiselie sago, palmensago, sagoe, 

 sago sagoemeel, sagome). 



Description. — Stem about 20 feet high, with many basal 

 offshoots, as stont as that of the coconut-palm, annulate, covered 

 above with the bases of fallen leaves. Leaves resembling those of 

 the coconut, but more erect, unarmed ; segments linear, acute, 

 keeled, smooth. Inflorescence developing when the tree is about 

 20 years old. 



Spadices several, terminal, alternately branched ; spikes 5-8 

 inches long. Spathes unarmed. Flowers minute, sunk in rusty 

 wool, scarcelj" larger than a grain of mustard seed, bisexual. 



Fruit globose, size of a small apple ; scales shining, channelled 

 (Jack). The fruit takes 3 years to ripe, 



Hahitat. — Malacca, Malay Islands. 



Illustration. — AYe have to thank Mrs. Burkill for kindly 

 taking the photograph (reproduced on pi, XCVIII) in the Botanic 

 Garden of Singapore, 



METROXYLON RUMPRII, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 213, 313, t, 

 102, 159 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Ill, 140 ; Becc. in Nuov. Jor. Bot. Ital. Ill, 

 30 ; Malesia I, 91 ; Becc. and Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, II, 'iSl.—Sagus 

 Rumphii, Willd. Sp. PI. IV, 404 ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. Ill, 623.— .S. yenuina 

 Blume Eumphia II, loO. — S. farinifera, Gaertn. II, 186, t. 120, f. 3 ; 

 Paiinph Herb. Amb. I, 7o, t. 17, 18. 



Names. — Kumph's Sago-Palm ; Sagu (Malay). See also the 

 names mentioned under foregoing species. 



Description. — Stem 25-30 feet high, soboliferous. Leaves 20 

 feet long and more ; leaflets linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 2-4 feet 

 long, 1 — several inches broad, on the edges and central nerve setose; 

 sheath coriaceous, 3 feet long ; petiole densel)^ covered with spines 

 which are ^-1^ inches long. Spadix 12-15 feet long, the seeon- 

 darj'- branches 18-12 inches long; spathes of the first and second 

 order coriaceous tubular, obliquely truncate, armed with compres- 

 sed, blackish spines. The catkin-like spikes cylindric, 2^ inches 

 long of the size of the little finger, densely compact with bracts 

 and bracteoles ; bracts suborbicular or transversely elliptic, 1^ 

 lines long, coriaceous-membranous ; bracteoles 1 line long, cam- 

 panulate, compressed. Calyx campanulate, trifid ; sepals ovate, 



