406 JOURNAL OF THE WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES VOL. 13, No. 18 
pinnae 51 em. by 2.3 em. Inflorescence with 33 to 41 primary branches, the 
peduncle apparently of only 4 joints, the second joint bearing the short inner 
spathe, which is 10 em. long by 3 em. wide, of delicate thin texture, the third 
joint ending sometimes with a broad bract or in a rudimentary collar-like 
spathe encircling the peduncle, the fourth joint bearing the first fruiting 
branch. Outer spathe 3.5 to 4 em. wide at 20 em. below the tip, the marginal 
carinae much narrower than in P. insignis, and with brown scales like those of 
the inner spathe of P. insignis. 
Thus in addition to the greater size of all the parts in P. insignis, there 
are several other differences, notably the more numerous joints of the pedun- 
cle, the greater development of the spathes, the lack of quaternary divisions 
of the branches of the inflorescence, and three of the filaments adnate below 
with the inner surfaces of the petals. The reduction of the second spathe to 
a mere rudiment in P. sargentii may be considered as a more specialized 
character. The basal joints of the peduncle of P. sargentii have not been 
described, and apparently no complete inflorescences have been collected. 
The unusual development of the first joint, as shown in P. insignis, is likely 
to be a group character, rather than a specifie difference.‘ 
OTHER SPECIES OF PSEUDOPHOENIX 
Study of other specimens of Pseudophoenix in the National Herbarium has 
led to the recognition of two additional West Indian species, one from Cuba, 
and the other from the island of Saona, at the southeastern extremity of the 
Dominican Republic. The occurrence of Pseudophoeniz in these localities has 
been mentioned by Small, but the plants were not distinguished from P. 
sargentii. Though complete descriptions are not possible, very definite dif- 
ferences are shown by the available material. More attention may be given 
to the study of this group of palms if characters for distinguishing the species 
are pointed out. 
Pseudophoenix saonae, Cook, sp. nov. 
Terminal portion of rachis with no distinct median ridge, the bases of the 
pinnae decurrent; upper pinnae rather close, irregularly spaced; fifth pinna 
from the end of the leaf 28 cm. long by 9 mm. wide; subterminal pinna 23 em. 
by 7 mm.; terminal pinna 22 em. by 6 to 9mm.; terminal bristle 21.5 em., 
slightly exceeding 1 mm. in thickness; surfaces of pinnae in the dry specimen 
uneven, marked with distinct longitudinal ridges and grooves, the veinlets 
irregular in size, with 2 to 4 veinlets on each side of the midvein much coarser 
than the others. 
Fruits 1.2 em. in diameter when dry, probably about 1.5 em. when fresh; 
filaments robust, broadened gradually to the base, forming a rather thick, 
distinctly projecting ring; endocarp obovate-globose, 1 em. in diameter; 
‘A very complete account of the history and distribution of Pseudophoenix has 
been published by Dr. John K. Small under the title The buccaneer-palm (Journ. N. Y. 
Bot. Gard. 23: 33-43. 1922.) 
