Nov. 4, 1923 COOK: PSEUDOPHOENIX INSIGNIS 401 
Leaf blade 291 to 311 em. long, rachis 260 to 277 em., at base 6 em. wide, 
at 50 em. above the base 3 em. wide, with a shallow median channel 1 cm. 
wide; the lateral margins of rachis expanded as thin horizontal wings 0.7 to 
0.8 em. wide, forming a deep lateral recess for the insertion of the pinnae; 
inferior angles of rachis also somewhat prominent, the inferior diameter 2.6 
em., and the lower side convex in the middle; rachis at 1 meter from base 1.5 
em. wide on the upper side and 1 em. wide below, the upper surface concave 
with narrow salient margins; rachis at 2 meters narrowed on the upper side 
to a thin sharp flange 0.8 cm. high and less than 1 mm. thick, the rachis proper 
0.7 em. high and 0.9 cm. wide underneath; rachis beyond 2 meters with the 
median flange gradually lower and finally disappearing, so that the terminal 
portion of the rachis is triangular, with the under side becoming distinctly 
grooved; end of rachis percurrent as a stiff bristle 31 em. long and about 1 
mm. in diameter, slightly exceeding the terminal pinnae. 
Pinnae 168 on one side of the rachis; lower pinnae in groups of 3 to 6, the 
groups 2 to 4 em. apart with the pinnae 1 em. or less apart in the groups; 
groups becoming more widely separated toward the middle of the leaf, and 
gradually reduced to 2 or 3 pinnae; last 8 or 10 pinnae not grouped, nearly 
opposite, and lying in the same plane, while the grouped pinnae are inserted 
at somewhat different angles, though not widely divergent, the upright posi- 
tion being precluded by the horizontal flanges of the rachis; bases of pinnae 
strongly complicate, the upper and lower margins nearly in contact, with a 
distinct pulvinus at the upper side, to control divergence from the rachis; 
lower pinnae reduced to an unusual extent and only gradually attaining full 
size above the middle of the leaf; lowest pinna 14 cm. by 0.3 em., second pinna 
11 em. by 0.3 em., fifth pinna 21 em. by 0.5 em., tenth pinna 29 em. by 0.8 
em., 20th 36 em. by 1.1 cm., 40th 59 em. by 1.7 em., 60th 66 em. by 2.5 cm., 
80th 75 cm. by 2.8 em., 100th 83 em. by 2.5 cm., 120th 70 em. by 2.9 em., 
140th 70 cm. by 2.3 em., 160th 48 cm. by 1.1 em., fifth pinna from the end 
42 cm. by 0.8 cm., subterminal pinna 34 em. by 0.5 em., last pinna 31.5 em. 
0.4 cm. 
Inflorescence 315 to 337 em., the fruiting axis 2 meters from lowest branch 
to tip, with 65 primary branches; peduncle tough and flexible, strongly 
fibrous in texture, with 8 joints, the basal joint 30 cm. long, 6.5 cm. wide at 
base, widened above to 10.5 cm., second joint 16 to 26 cm. long; third joint 
35 cm.; fourth joint 12 em.; fifth to eighth joints 3 to 5 em. long, together 18 
em.; only the first and second joints with spathes, the others with broad 
bracts like those subtending the lower branches, the lowest bracts 4 em. 
wide, the upper 2 cm.; outer spathe tough, leathery and persistent, remaining 
alive to the ripening of the fruit or longer, 139 cm. long, 10 cm. wide, strongly 
compressed, with sharp, thin-margined carinae on each side, the surface with 
a thick coating of wax, not splitting in the middle but at one side, near the 
lateral carina, the apex thin and flexible, strongly compressed, gradually 
narrowed to a blunt tip; second spathe 41 to 47 cm. long, completely included 
and exceeded by the outer spathe, to the extent of 77 cm., the texture also 
much thinner and more membranous, the margins narrowly carinate and the 
surface beset along the margins with large tufted brown scales. 
Fruiting axis distinctly flattened at base, 3.5 em. wide, 2.5 em. thick; base 
of branches flattened, 2 em. wide; lower primary branches 80 to 90 em. long, 
with 21 to 27 secondary branches, many of these attaining alength of 20 to 24 
em. and branched again, the 2 to 6 tertiary divisions 12 to 15 em. long, the lowest 
primary branch distinctly reduced, 54 cm. long, with 20 secondaries, all simple; 
second branch 72 em. long, with 24 secondaries, 5 of these branched; some of the 
