94. TALMM. 

 7- Calamus, L. Cane. 



1. C Viminalis, Willd. Bent, JT., K. ; Bet, 8, 



A very slender palm climbing in favourable situations By 

 long slender thorny flagellae (from the leaf-sheatbs an3 

 spadix) which are armed with 2-3-fid claws. L. pari-pinnate 

 2-3 ft. long with fascicled or irregularly scattered lmea*- 

 lanceolate leaflets with sharp bristles on the mid-rib, nerves 

 and margin. Spadix very long much branched with several 

 spathes, the first elongate -tubular, closely sheathing Fr. 

 £-J" diam., pale-yellow, scaly, beaked. 



Wild in rocky valleys in Singbhtun, bnt rare, and I have never n««n 

 it in flower. 



Fam. 95. ARACE JR. 



Usually stout herbs with a perennial rhizome, sometimes 

 scan dent, with sheathing often peltate simple or compound 

 leaves, generally basal-nerved and with reticulate venatiuu, 

 Individual flowers inconspicuous but usually crowded on a 

 cylindrical fleshy rachis (spadix) which is often subtended by 

 a large green or brightly coloured spathe. Fls. ebracteolate 

 1-2-sexual usually monoecious (dioecious in some Arisaama;, 

 shewing a progressive reduction from complete flowers to 

 1-sexual flowers composed of a single stamen or pistil. 

 Spadix often produced into a barren portion ''appendage" 

 above the flowers. Fr. a berry, rarely dry. Outer integu- 

 ment of the seed fleshy 



From a forest point of view, the Aroids are important from " thei* 

 yielding nutritions or poisonous tubero. Many species possess latioif erout 

 vessels and these are all more or less poisonous, but the poison may be 

 dissipated by heat. 

 L Perianth present. 



A stout prickly herb ...... 1. bavia. 



II. Porianth suppressed. 



A. Fls. 2-sexual. Stamens distinct. A stout climber 2. 8ctndapstu 



B. Fls. 1-sexual mcaoecious (sometimes diacioua 



in Arissema) 



549 



