NO. 7 A NEW PALM FROM COCOS ISLAND COOK I 5 



narrowed to 2 mm. near the end. Upper surface of rachis beset with 

 coarse brown scales, the lower surface nearly naked, the scales minute 

 and widely scattered. 



Lowest pinnae 3-6 cm. apart, very narrow, 66 cm. long, 5-6 cm. 

 wide, often splitting into 2-3 slender shreds ; fourth pinnae 60 cm. 

 long, 12 mm. wide; middle pinnae 115 cm. long, 4.5 cm. wide, with a 

 prominent vein on each side 1-1.3 cm. from the midrib, usually more 

 remote from the upper margins than from the lower, as 7 mm. to 

 4 mm. Three or four of the intervening venules larger than the 

 others, but not regularly spaced, the finer venules very close ; no indi- 

 cation of cross-veins. Upper pinnae 2.5-3 cm - apart, measured from 

 the midveins. Pinnae with coarse brown scales underneath along the 

 midveins, like the scales of the upper side of the rachis. Terminal 

 pinnae very slender, 60 cm. long, 3 mm. wide, tapering to a long fili- 

 form point. The base of the rachis is shown in natural size at the 

 left in plate 7, the pinnae on the left side torn off, and also the third 

 pinna of the right side, but the attachment is perceptible as a narrow 

 oblique scar near the middle of the section. Thus the narrow basal 

 pinnae are nearly as close together as the pinnae at the middle of the 

 leaf, shown in plate 8, in marked contrast with the lowest pinnae of 

 Plectis, shown in the right-hand figure of plate 7. 



STRUCTURE OF THE INFLORESCENCE 



The inflorescences are similar to those of Plectis but relatively 

 much shorter and more compact, attaining about 65 cm. instead of 

 exceeding 1 m. as in Plectis, the peduncle and axis more reduced, the 

 branches set closer, the flowers notably more crowded, too close for 

 contiguous fruits to develop without contact, notably congested in the 

 proximal portions of the lower branches instead of being farther 

 apart as in Plectis; also the naked basal sections of the branches much 

 shorter and more compressed than in Plectis, with a smaller and more 

 specialized pulvinus. Surface of branches with a dense tomentum of 

 stellate scales, notably coarser and thicker than in Plectis. 



Spathes somewhat unequally developed, the lower spathe scar rela- 

 tively narrow and superficial, the triangular lateral expansion of the 

 scar much narrower than in Plectis and the projecting angle smaller. 

 Inner spathe attaining a length of 85 cm., including a slender unopened 

 tip 7 cm. long, 1.5 cm. wide at the base; width 5-6 cm., somewhat 

 thickened at the sides but not distinctly carinate, the surface smooth 

 but not shining, costulate along the fibers, and minutely striate, like 

 an appressed tomentum ; in the middle or lower part with scattering 

 light-colored lacerate-stellate scales, more of the rays directed upward. 



