NO. 7 A NEW PALM FROM COCOS ISLAND COOK 2$ 



and also on the base of the pinna, the scales flat and rather regular in 

 outline, often split or notched along the margins, but not rayed or 

 fringed ; lower part of rachis surface naked. 



Pinnae 61-63 on each side, lower pinnae widely spaced, 12-14 cm. 

 apart, the middle and upper pinnae closer and more regular, about 

 4 cm. apart ; basal pinnae 67 cm. by 1 . 1 cm. ; middle pinnae 81-93 cm. 

 by 3.5 cm. ; terminal pinnae 2>7 cm. by 1 .2 cm. or less, often split into 

 narrow shreds, 5 mm. or less in width. Upper pinnae with coarse 

 brown scales on a short basal section of the midrib underneath, the 

 scales possibly fugacious elsewhere. Secondary veins distinct, but less 

 prominent than in Rooseveltia. 



Outer spathe longer than the inner, attaining 130 cm., broadly 

 auricled at base, 15 cm. broad across the auricles, 10 cm. broad above 

 the auricles, gradually wider above, the lateral margins winged, the 

 tip thin and flat, 4 cm. wide near the end. Auricles of the first spathe 

 supported on the widened basal joint of the peduncle, the lateral 

 expansion of the spathe-scar measuring 2.5 by 1.5 cm., but the scar 

 only 2 mm. wide near the median line. Scar of second spathe 6 mm. 

 wide on the sides, 3 mm. near the middle. The two spathes similar 

 in size and texture, thin and friable when dry like the leaf sheaths, not 

 woody and rigid as in some of the related genera that have unequal 

 spathes, only the inner spathe complete, the outer much shorter. A 

 similar specialization, two complete spathes of thin texture, and these 

 retained in the leaf-sheaths till the time of flowering, appears in sev- 

 eral East Indian palms, Seaforthia, Loroma, Archonto phoenix , and 

 Linoma. 



Spadix, including the very long, slender subequal branches, exceed- 

 ing 1 m. ; peduncle to first branch 9-13 cm., basal joint 5-9 cm., sec- 

 ond joint 2.2-2.5 cm -> third joint slightly shorter than the second. 

 Branching axis 37-39 cm., with 65-70 branches ; tip of axis beyond 

 branches 66 cm. ; several branches (7-9) suppressed on the upper side 

 of the lower part of the axis, none on the under side ; the lower 

 branches and locations of suppressed branches subtended by large 

 rusty-brown spathelike bracts, attaining 22 cm. by 4 cm. Lower 

 branches 60-70, long, the naked base or stalk attaining 6 cm., gradu- 

 ally shorter, 2-4 cm., on upper branches ; distal sections of branches 

 tapering, the terminal 5-6 cm. with only male flowers. Lower branches 

 often with a rounded dark-colored pulvinus above the lowest flower- 

 cluster or flower position, doubtless a carry-over from the pulvini in 

 the axils of the branches. 



