140 PHILIPPINE PALMS 
trees that now occur in Manila, as the palm may grow on the 
island of Jolo (Sulu), and does occur in the part of Palawan 
inhabited by the Sulu Moros. 
Genus ARECA Linnaeus 
This genus of pinnate-leaved palms is represented by the 
widely cultivated Areca catechu L. and nine endemic species. 
The endemic species are of little economic value, but Areca ca- 
techu is extensively cultivated throughout the Archipelago. 
Conspectus of the Philippine species. 
a’. Floriferous branches bearing only one or very few female flowers, 
sessile on their basal thickened part, and the geminate male flowers 
in distichous alternate indentures in their upper slender part. 
b*. Spadices spreadingly twice or thrice branched; palms with tall slender 
stems and relatively large fruits. (§ Huareca.) : 
c’. Male flowers narrowly lanceolate (unknown in A. Whitfordii) ; 
rudimentary ovary conspicuous, trifid, as long as, or longer 
than, the stamens; anthers acute or acuminate. Female flowers 
with broadly imbricate sepals about as broad and long as the 
petals. Fruit with the pericarp finally entirely disintegrating 
into very fine and soft fibers. 
d’. Fruit having the mesocarp considerably thicker at both ends 
than at the sides, and the seed inserted considerably above the 
base. 
e’. Seed having the vascular bundles of the integument arching 
on the sides, and strongly anastomosing immediately from 
its base, even on the raphal side................._.......... 1. A. Catechu. 
f. Fruit orange-red; globose-ovoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, not more 
than one-third or one-fourth longer than broad (4 to 5 
em long, 3 to 4 em broad). Seed subglobose with a more 
or less flattish base_............... A. Catechu (forma communis.) 
f*. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, rather ventricose, smaller than usual 
(4 em long and 3 em or a little less broad) ; seed globose- 
depressed or broader than high, the base flat. 
A. Catechu var. silvatica. 
f®. Stems thicker and shorter than in forma communis; spadix 
denser and with shorter floriferous branches. 
A. Catechu var. batanensis. 
f‘. Fruit narrowly ellipsoid; twice, and even more, as long as 
broad (5.5 to 7 cm long, 2.5 cm broad). Seed ovoid-conical 
with a blunt apex and flat base, slightly longer than broad. 
A. Catechu var. longicarpa. 
e*. Seed having the vascular bundles of the integument arising 
straight, almost erect, from the raphal side and slightly 
branching. Fruit elongate-ellipsoid, twice as long as broad 
(7 em long, 3.2 to 3.5 em broad). Seed ovoid-conical with 
ria 6) Lbs Sumer cs). emeerenes pee MeN ON RE See me eee er 2. A. macrocarpa. 
d’. Fruit ellipsoid-fusiform, twice and more as long as broad, having 
the mesocarp not much thicker at the ends than at the sides. 
Seed placed nearly in the middle of the pericarp and equally 
narrowing to both ends. 
