OF THE AMAZON. 77 



PLATE XXVIII. 



Bactris pectinata, Martins. 



Iu, Lingoa GeraL 



The stem of this species is from six to ten feet high, 

 very slender, strongly ringed or jointed and smooth, 

 but all other parts of the plant, the petioles, sheaths, 

 spathes, &c., are prickly. The leaves are regularly 

 pinnate, with the leaflets long, narrow, pointed and 

 hairy beneath. The long sheathing bases of the 

 petioles are persistent, covering the stem often half way 

 down to the ground. 



The spadices grow from among the persistent leaf- 

 sheaths ; they are very small, simple or two- or three- 

 branched, and have a small persistent fibrous spathe. 

 The fruit is very small and globular and of a red colour, 

 and is not eatable. 



This very hairy and prickly little palm grows in the 

 sandy Catinga forest of the Upper Rio Negro and in 

 the most exposed localities. It seems to agree well 

 with the B. pectinata of Martius. 



A fruit is shown on the Plate of the natural size. 



