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PALM TREES 



Genus Maximiliana, Martins. 



Some spadices with only male flowers, others with 

 male and female flowers on the same tree. Spathes 

 large, complete, woody. Flowers with bracts. Male 

 flowers with three or six stamens, and with a minute 

 rudimentary pistil. Female flowers with a short style 

 and three stigmas, and rudimentary stamens forming a 

 membranaceous cup. 



The stems of these magnificent Palms are tall, erect 

 and smooth. The leaves are very large and irregularly 

 pinnate. The bases of the petioles are persistent, often 

 covering the stem quite down to the ground. The 

 spathe is woody, complete, longitudinally cut and beaked. 

 The spadices grow from among the lower leaves and are 

 simply branched, but very densely clustered with the 

 fruit, which is ovate, and has a dry external covering. 



Only three species of this genus are known, all very 

 handsome plants. One is a native of the West India 

 Islands, one of Brazil, and a third is common in the 

 Amazon district. 



