THE VALM^ OF /iRiriSIl INDIA AM) CEYLON 



213 



3 or 7-flo\vtM-o(l ; Jlowers distichous, large ; calyx ilat, small, divided 

 almost to the base into o triaiigidar, mucronate, smooth teeth ; 

 c^orolla divided almost to the base into 3 ascending, lanceolate, 

 acuminate segments, 4-44 lines long ; staminodes 6 ; ovary broadly 

 globose, covered with exceedingly numerous, shortish, very 

 iimbriate scales with multifid points, 3-celled ; style* very short, 

 stout, with 3 stout, subiilate, spreading branches as long as the 

 petals, channelled and stigmatie on their inner faces. 



Fig. 2— 



Upper row : Plectocomia khas'iyanri,. 

 Left: Scales of fruit much masjnified. 

 Middle : Section of seed, natural size. 

 Rig'ht : Seed enclosed in the tlesh, natural size 

 Lower row : Plectocomia assamica. 

 Left : Section of seed. 

 Middle: Seed. 



Rig'ht : Scale of fruit (after Martius). 

 Fruit 1-1^ inch in diameter, globose, abruptly beaked, surrounded 

 at the base by the calyx, and corolla now flattened out, dark brown ; 

 scales veiy numerous, rather small, either nearly smooth, or with 

 ciliate margins and recurved, split, fimbriate points. Seed covered 

 with a rather thick, brown, cellular, spongy substance ; albumen 

 solid, horny; embrvo basilar (fig. 2). 

 Habitat.— Khasia Hills, 4-5,000 feet. 



PLECTOCOMIA HIMALAYAN A, Griff, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 

 100; Palms Brit. Ind. 108, t. 219; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 199 ; T. 

 Anders, in Journ. Linn. Soc. XI, 12; Hooker FL Brit. Ind. VI, 478.— P. 

 montana, Herb. Ind. Or. Hook f. «.t Th. 



