740 PALMA. [Rhopalostylis. 
1. R. sapida, Wendl. and Drude in Kerch. Palm. 255.—Stem 
rather slender, smooth, 10-24 ft. high, 6-9in. diam., rarely more. 
Leaves 4-8 ft. long; rhachis clothed with copious lepidote scales ; 
leaflets very numerous, 2-3 ft. long or more, 1-2 in. broad, linear- 
ensiform, midrib and main veins covered with lepidote scales ; 
margins replicate at the base. Spadix 1-2ft. long, much and 
closely branched, glabrous; spathes 2 or 8. Flowers very densely 
crowded, purplish-lilac. Drupe 4in. long, elliptic-oblong, bright- 
red.—Areca sapida, Soland. ex Forst. de Pl. Escul. 66; A. Rach. Fl. 
Nowv. Zel. 157; A. Cunn. Precur.n. 298; Raoul, Choixz, 40; Hook. 
f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 262, t. 59, 60; Handb. N.Z. Fil. 288; Bot. Mag. 
t. 5139. Kentia sapida, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. ii. 312. 
Norru Isnanp: Abundantin forests throughout. SourH Istanp: In low 
land districts not far from the coast as far south as Banks Peninsula and 
Hokitika, rare and local. CHaTHam Is~ANDs: #. A. D. Cox! Sea-level tuo 
2000 ft. Nikau. January-April. 
The nikau-palm, so well known to all residents in the northern half of 
the colony, is of special interest as being the most southern member of its 
order. The unexpanded central bud and the very young spadix are both 
edible, and were formerly eaten by the Maoris, and even by Huropean settlers. 
Branched specimens are occasionally seen ; a very remarkable one with no less 
than 11 branches has been described and figured by Mr. Percy Smith (Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. x. 357, t. 15). Mr. Cockayne refers the Chatham Islands plant to the follow- 
ing species, but fruiting specimens sent to me by Mr. F. A. D. Cox have the 
elliptic-oblong drupe of R. sapida, and not the globose one of k. Bauert. 
2. R. Baueri, Wendl. and Drude in Bot. Zeit. xxxv. (1877) 
638.—Very closely allied to the preceding species, but larger and 
stouter, sometimes attaining a height of 50 ft. with a trunk over 
12in. diam. Leaves larger and more numerous; segments usually 
longer and broader. Inflorescence larger, the spadices said to be 
sometimes 3ft. in length. Drupe altogether different in shape, 
globose or nearly so, $-$in. diam.—Kentia Baueri, Seem. Fil. Vit. 
269; Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1888) 174. Areca Baueri, 
Hook. f. in Illustr. Hortic. xv. (1868) 575; Bot. Mag. t. 5735. A. 
sapida, Hndl. Prodr. Fl. Norfolc. 26 (not of Soland.). 
KERMADEC ISLANDS: Sunday Island, abundant from sea-level to the tops of 
the hills, alt. 1500 ft., 7. F. C. CHaruam Istanps (?): Index Kewensis, iv. 713. 
Originally discovered in Norfolk Island, and supposed by Endlicher to be 
the same as the New Zealand species, from which it is easily distinguished by 
the larger size and globose fruit. It is stated to be found in the Chatham 
Islands in the ‘‘ Index Kewensis,’’ but I have seen no specimens from thence. 
Orper LXXXV. PANDANEZ:. 
Trees or shrubs or climbers, frequently with aerial roots. Leaves 
usually long and narrow, acuminate, sheathing at the base, coria- 
ceous, keeled, margins and keel spinulose-serrate. Flowers 
dicecious, both sexes densely crowded on simple or branched 
