114 ^"^^ ''A'-^'AE — 19. ARACEAE 



28. Ovary i-cclled 29 



Ovary 3-cclled, but usually one cell only fertile 34 



29. Spadices simple. Leaves deeply forked. Stem short, erect. — Species 5. 



Madagascar Haplophloga Baill. 



Spadices branched 30 



30. Spadices once branched. Stigma usually i. Stem tree-like. — • Species 



5. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Used as ornamental plants. 

 The fibres of the leaves (piassave) are used in the manufacture of ropes 



and stuffs Dictyosperma Wendl. & Drude 



Spadices 2 — 3 times branched. Stigmas usually 3 31 



31. Spadices twice branched. Male flowers with valvate or subimbricate 



sepals. Anthers sagittate, basifixed, opening outwards or laterally. 

 Rudimentary pistil 3-cleft. Female flowers larger than the male. 

 Stigmas 3, subsessile. Tall trees. — -Species i (A. Catechu L., betel palm). 

 Cultivated in East Africa. It yields wood, bark for tanning, fibre, 

 vegetables, wine, and medicaments ; the fruits are chewed. Areca L. 

 Spadices- thrice branched. Male flowers with imbricate sepals. Anthers 

 ovoid, opening inwards. Rudimentary ])istil entire 32 



32. Styles basal. Stem reed-like. — Species 2. Madagascar. (Chrysalido- 



carpus Wendl.) Neodypsis Baill. 



Styles or stigmas terminal 33 



33. Leaves irregularly pinnatiscct, with lanceolate segments. Stem low, 



reed-like. — Species i. Madagascar. (Under Dypsidiitm Baill.) 



Neophloga Baill. 

 Leaves regularly pinnatisect, with linear segments. Stem tall. — Species 

 2. Madagascar and Ccfmoro Islands. (Including ]'onitra Becc.) 



Phlogella Baill. 



34. Spadices simple. Petals lanceolate. Anther-halves linear. Style conical. 



— Species 3. Madagascar Haplodypsis Baill. 



Spadices much branched. Petals ovate or orbicular. Anther-halves 

 oblong or ovate. Style 3-partite. . ." 35 



35. Flowers monoecious. Sepals of the male flowers orbicular. Stamens 



unequal in length. Stigmas awl- shaped. Albumen ruminate. — -Species 

 5. Madagascar. Leaves used for j)laiting-work. . . Phloga Nor. 

 Flowers dioecious. Sepals of the male flowers elliptical. Stamens subcqual. 

 Stigmas short and thick. Albumen homogeneous. — Species 2. Mada- 

 gascar and Comoro Islands. . . . Ravenea Hildebr. & Bouchc 



ORDER SPATHIFLORAE 



FAMILY 19. ARACEAE 



Leaves usually net-veined. Flowers in sjiadiccs, without bracteoles.' Perianth 

 simple or wanting. Fruit indehiscent or bursting irregularly, usually berry-like. 

 Seed-coat fleshy. — Genera 33, species 150. (Plate 12.) 



