242 PHILIPPINE PALMS 
Genus PLECTOCOMIA Martius and Blume 
PLECTOCOMIA ELMERI Becc. 
Local name: Ungang (Bagobo). 
This species is a large, climbing palm with stems 5 to 7.5 
centimeters in diameter. The young stems are green, the old 
ones, yellowish green. It is reported from the district of Davao, 
where it was found in dense woods on the southeastern part 
of Mount Apo at an elevation of about 1,000 meters. 
Genus PTYCHORAPHIS Beccari 
This is a genus of pinnate-leaved palms closely related to 
Hydvospathe. The Philippine species are sylvan, apparently 
rare, and of little economic importance. 
Conspectus of the species. 
a’. Fruit longer than broad. 
b*. Of medium size. Leaflets furnished underneath with a few paleolae 
on the midrib only. Spadix twice branched. Fruit narrowly ovoid, 
tapering above to a slightly oblique, conical point, 10 to 12 mm 
long, 5 mm thick. Seed ovoid-ellipsoid, subacute, 7 mm long, 4 
mm thick; vascular branches of the integument loosely anastomosing. 
1. Pt. microcarpa. 
h°. Of medium size. Leaflets furnished underneath with paleolae, often 
on three nerves. Spadix twice branched. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, 
not or very slightly and asymmetrically obtuse-acuminate, 12 mm 
long, 7 mm thick. Seed ovoid, rounded at both ends; vascular 
branches of the integument very closely anastomosing. 
2. Pt. intermedia. 
b*. Robust, stem about 15 m high. Spadix thrice branched. Leaflets 
rigid, without paleolae on the lower surface; secondary nerves 
well marked; margins somewhat thickened. Fruit narrowly ovoid, 
tapering above to a conical, slightly oblique point, 12 to 13 mm 
long, 5 mm broad. Seed ovoid-ellipsoid, acute, 9 mm long, 4.5 mm 
thick; vascular branches of the integument loosely anastomosing. 
3. Pt. Elmerii. 
a’. Fruit spherical. Stem about 6 m high. Leaflets long-acuminate, the 
point slightly faleate. Spadix thrice branched, floriferous branches 
12 to 15 cm long, 2.5 to 3 mm thick. The bracteoles of the female 
flower form a regular cupular caliculum. Fruiting perianth shallowly 
cupular. Fruit spherical, 7 mm in diameter, with the remains of the 
stigmas nearly central and apical, the surface not granulose. Seed 
Sphericala 5. pam aad anne be eee eee 4, Pt. cagayanensis. 
Ptychoraphis elmeri is known in Bisaya as belisan, and Pty- 
choraphis intermedia in Manobo as marigh6éi. The buds of 
Ptychoraphis elmeri are said to be edible. 
Genus ZALACCA Reinwardt 
This genus is represented by a single species, Zalacca clemen- 
siana Becc. of central Mindanao. 
