76 PALM TREES 



Genus Bactris, Jacquin. 



Male and female flowers intermingled in the same 

 spadix, the females being more abundant in the lower 

 parts and the males in the upper. Spathe double, ex- 

 terior short and membranous, interior complete, woody. 

 Male flowers with six, nine or twelve stamens. Female 

 flowers with three sessile stigmas, and the stamens 

 represented by a rudimentary ring. 



The stems in this genus are very slender, ringed, 

 nearly smooth or with a few scattered spines. The 

 leaves are more or less terminal, generally few in num- 

 ber, pinnate or entire, with the bases of the petioles 

 much sheathing and very spiny. The spathe is also 

 clothed with spines. The spadices are simple or simply 

 branched and grow from the axils of the leaves. The 

 fruit is small and round, and the outer pulp is often 

 subacid and eatable. 



This very extensive genus of small prickly Palms 

 contains forty-six species, all natives of South America. 

 Two species described by Martius are here figured, 

 together with six others apparently new, but as it may 

 be impossible to identify those not seen in fruit, some 

 of them have been left unnamed. 



The species here figured are all from the Rio Negro, 

 where I began studying them, and are sufficient to give 

 an idea of their general characteristics and aspect. 



