6. Phcenix.] 94. PALM^i. L 6. Abeca. 



reduced to long sharp spines, base thickened and decurrent 

 on the rachis. Spadix 6-10", elongating to 1-3 ft. in fruit. 

 Berry |" red, finally black. 



A common plant especially on poor clay soils in open grassy forest. 

 On qnartz in Eastern Palamau. The Kita burn in the Saitba forest which 

 is almost entirely grass and Kita is composed of Serpentine. 



Fls. April. Fr. May-June. 



The frnits are mnoh eaten by pea-f owL The leaves are nsed for thatch- 

 i ng, mats, etc. A Sago is prepared from the soft tissue of the stem. 



2. P. humilis, Boyle. Kita, K. 



Stem attains 6-7 ft. L. much as in last but leaflets 

 softer, the base not swollen or decnrrent on the rachis. The 

 spadix 1-3 ft. and usually exceeding the leaves in fruit. 



Less common than the last. Chiefly on ridges esp. on white clay 

 sohists. 



Fl. and Fr. the same time, and nses similar. 



8. P. robusta, HooTc.f. P. humilis, var. robnsta, Beccart. 



Stem attains 15 ft. or more, very stout " tessellated with short persis- 

 tent rhomboidal leaf bases" ripe fruit brown. Beported by Hooker from 

 Parasnath only. 



4. P. sylvestrifl, Rozb. Khajur, iT„ H. 



Stem tall and leaves 7-12 ft. Fr. 1-1J" long, orange, ripens August. 



Frequently cultivated for toddy, esp. between Chorparan and Barhi in 

 lazaribagh. The fruit is also eaten and the leaves used for mats. 



6. Areca, L. 



1. A. Catechu, L. Gua, B„ Beng. ; Supari, H. ; The Areca or Betel- 

 nut Palm. 



A very graceful palm with a very slender trunk. L. pinnate below, 

 pinnatifid or undivided above. Spadices from below the leaves, branched, 

 with numerous spikes bearing the female flowers at their base, and many 

 minute oblique male flowers above. St. 6. Ovule 1 basal ereot. 

 Fr. 1^-2" with a fibrous mesocarp. Albumen ruminate. 



Only very sparingly cultivated in Chota Nagpur. the climate of which 

 is too dry for it. 



548 



