58 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Fol. XXV. 



than the calyx, divided half way down into 3 triangular elongate 

 and accuminate segments. Staminodes united into a ring and 

 connate with the corolla tube for the lower third of the latter^ 

 divided in the free part into 6 large triangular elongate and subu- 

 late teeth. Ovary pyramidal-trigonous ; stigmas convergent. 



Fruits cylindrical-ellipsoidal, equally broad below and above. 



Habitat. — Lower Nigeria. 



Uses. — A pleasant wine is obtained from Raphia vinifera. It is 

 procured by cutting out the terminal inflorescence as soon as it 

 makes its appearence ; the wine is then procured in large quantities. 



The petioles of the leaves are emploj^ed as poles upon which 

 to carry palanquins. The leaflets are used for roofing. 



Illustration. — Mr. Macmillan was kind enough to take a pho- 

 tograph of a fine specimen of Rapliia vinifera growing in the 

 Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya. There arise from between the 

 leaves about 6 flowering and fruiting spadices at different stages of 

 development. (Plate XCVII.) 



Sub-tribe: CALAMEjE. 



Flowers polygamous-monoecious, diclinous-monoecious or dioecius. 



Ovary incompletely 3-locular. 



Distribution. — Scarcely touching tropical West Africa, the Cala- 

 meas begin with a great nureiber of species on the tropical slopes of 

 the Himalaya, pass through continental India to the Sunda and 

 Malay Archipelago and finally to Poljaiesia on the one hand, and the 

 tropical coast of Australia on the other. 



Eugeissonia, Griff:., Metroxyion, Rottb., Figafetta, BL, Zalacca, 

 Reinw., Korthalsia, Bl., Ceratolohus, Bl., Fledocomia, Mart, Pleeto- 

 comiopsis, Becc, Calamus, L., Daemoyiorho'ps . Bl. 



Key to the genera described below. 



A. Monocarpic palms, flowering once and 

 then dying. 



I. Spadices axillar}^ from the upper- 



most leaves. 



1 . Stem scandent. Spadix with long- 



am entiform branches clothed 

 with large closely imbricating 

 inflated spathels that conceal 

 the spikelets of flowers 4. Pledocomia. 



2. Stem scandent. Spadix much 



Ijranched, the branches having 

 small iufvindibular spathels, 

 each containing a small spikelet. 

 Scales of fruit distinct 5. Pledocomiopsis^ 



II. Spadix very large, terminal 1. Metioxi/lon. 



