Phoenix. dioecia iiexandbia. 785 



2. P. fariuifera. Will J. iv. 7'3l. R. Corom. p/. i. A^ 74, 



Stem scarcely any. Leaves pinnate ; leajlels opposite, ri- 

 gid, the lower pair ending in spines. 



Phoenix pusilla. Gcert. Sem. i. t. 29. Lourier. Cochin. Ck. 

 753. 



Telijig. Chilta-eita. 



This dwarf species of the date tree is a native of dry, bar* 

 ren ground, chiefly of the sandy lands at a small distance 

 from the sea near Coringa. It flowers in January and Fe- 

 bruary. The fruit ripens in May. 



Trunks the little it has is only about one or at most two 

 feet high, and so entirely enveloped in the sheaths of the 

 leaves that it is never seen, the whole appearing like a large 

 round bush. Leaves pinnate. Leaflets opposite, sword* 

 shaped, much pointed, smooth, of a deep green. Spathes axil- 

 lary, one-valved, concave on the inside, fitting the trunk or 

 base of the leaf immediately within it; this concavity is bor- 

 dered by tM'o sharp edges ; convex on the outside, there splitr 

 ting longitudinally, leathery, smooth, withering. Spadix 

 erect, very ramous, branches simple, spreading in every direc- 

 tion, from eight to twelve inches long. Male flowers. Ca-r 

 hjx small, slightly three.toothed. Petals three, oblong, white, 

 rigid. Filaments six, very short, inserted into a fleshy globu- 

 lar receptacle. Anthers oblong, erect. Female flow^ers on 

 a separate plant. Ca/?/a; as above. Pe<a/s three, orbicular, 

 concave, equal, rigid, lasting. Germs three, though nevei* 

 more than one ever increases in size, the other two always 

 wither, although they contain the rudiment of a seed every 

 way like the fertile germ; ovate, each ending in a short 

 recurved style. Stigma simple. Berry when ripe, of a shin- 

 ing black, of the size of a large French bean ; the pulp is 

 sweet and mealy, but in small quantity, the natives eat them 

 as gathered from the bush without any preparation. Seed 

 cartilaginous, of the shape of the berry, grooved longitudinal- 

 ly , as in the common date, pretty smooth, brown on the outside, 

 of a light grayish white within, on the middle of the back 

 VOL. in. 4 u 



