208 PHILIPPINE PALMS 
e’. Leaflets linear-ensiform, 35 to 45 cm long, 16 to 24 mm broad 
(the largest), with three bristly nerves on the upper surface, 
underneath the midrib alone or, occasionally, also three nerves 
bristly; partial inflorescences and spikelets spreading; fruit 
globose, mammillate-beaked, often slightly depressed, 15 to 
t$: mm in~diameter= ee eee ee 10. D. Gaudichaudii. 
e’. Leaflets narrowly ensiform, 55 to 60 cm long, 20 to 22 mm 
broad (the largest), almost smooth above and with only a 
few short bristles on the midrib underneath; partial in- 
florescences and spikelets inserted at a very acute angle; 
fruit globose, conically beaked, 12 mm in diameter. 
11. D. affinis. 
e*. Leaflets lanceolate-ensiform, 33 to 40 cm long, 17 to 20 mm 
broad, bristly on three to five nerves on the upper surface 
and on the midrib alone underneath; spikelets spreading; 
fruit globular or shortly ovoid, minutely beaked, 12 mm 
in} diaketersc. 5 ces ean ete Vee a 12. D. Curranii. 
e*. Leaflets linear-lanceolate, 25 to 28 cm long, 12 to 14 mm broad 
(the largest), sparingly spinulous on three nerves above 
and underneath with only a few bristles on the midrib from 
the middle upward; fruit small, broadly ovoid-ellipsoid, 12 
mm long, 9 mm thick. A slender plant, sheathed stem 12 to 
Ib mmc im diameter. 222, Ue se eee ee ee 13. D. gracilis. 
Genus ELAEIS Jacquin 
ELAEIS GUINEENSIS Jacq. (Plates XXX, XXXI). OIL PALM. 
The oil palm, which was introduced into the Philippines some 
time after the middle of the last century, is grown in Manila 
and in some of the other larger towns merely for ornamental 
purposes. It flowers and fruits abundantly in the Philippines, 
but no part of the palm is utilized by the Filipinos. It is of 
immense value in tropical West Africa, its original home, and 
large quantities of oil and kernels are annually sent to Europe. 
Hubert * states that the annual export of oil and kernels from 
tropical Africa exceeds in value 40,000,000 dollars. In various 
parts of Africa, palm wine, corresponding to our tuba from the 
coconut, nipa, buri, etc., is extracted, either by making incisions 
in the upper part of the trunks of standing trees; by making 
small incisions just below the insertion of the fruiting peduncle, 
or by felling the tree. The yield per tree by the first method 
varies from 50 to 200 liters; by the other it is said not to ex- 
ceed 26 gallons. The buds, like those of many different kinds of 
palms, are edible. 
Genus HETEROSPATHE Scheffer 
This genus is represented by four species all similar in ap- 
pearance and apparently for the most part closely allied. The 


* Hubert, P., Le Palmier a4 huile, Volume 9 (1911), pages 1 to 314. 
