354 Major Madden on the Occurrence of Palms, ^c, 



bilobis vel bipartitis lobis centralium brevibus obtusis recurvis, 

 spadice (fructus) bipedali ramis primariis tribus, spathis subteruis 

 (basilaribus 2 rameo 1) pedunculum communem omnino tegen- 

 tibus, fructibus obloiigis livido-cseruleis. 

 " Hab. Khassya bills, on precipices at Moosmai and Matnloo. Alt. 

 4000 feet : not observed in flower or fruit. 



" Desc.*^ A palm of moderate height (the specimen measures 

 9-10 feet), the trunk 5 inches in diameter in the thickest parts, 

 obscurely annulate. Under the crown, which is thick, is an 

 oblong mass (2 feet long) of flattened bases of petioles and their 

 retia, which are of stiff fibres. 



"Leaves abont 3i feet long; petiole 18 inches long, with 

 irregular denticulate margins; lamina flabelliform reniform (so 

 is the entire part of the leaf), 3 feet long by 3^ feet wide ; divi- 

 sions about sixty-five, the lateral ones shortest, 12 to 14 inches 

 long, but the deepest divided (viz. to within 5-6 inches of the 

 apex of petiole), linear, their segments l|-2 inches long, narrow, 

 acute ; central, ensiform, reaching to within 10-12 inches of the 

 apex of the petiole, about 16 inches long, shortly and obtusely 

 bilobed, segments about half an inch long, with recurved points ; 

 intermediate divisions also ensiform, about 18 inches long, their 

 segments narrower and deeper than those of the central ; young- 

 leaves covered with thick, white, paleaceous tomentum. 



" Spadix (fruit-bearing) 2 feet long, nodding, compressed ; 

 the lower half concealed by the spathes, of which there are three, 

 two common ones, and one to one of the main branches. They 

 are coriaceous, brown, \vith oblique mouths and bilobed limbs : 

 the lowest is about a foot long. Branches of the spadix quite 

 exserted, quite naked, the terminal one quite dichotomous ; divi- 

 sions many. 



" Spikes 4 to 6 inches long. 



" Fruit scarcely baccate, ~ inch long, 2| lines broad, solitary 

 or 2-3 together, but of distinct carpels, oblong, inequilateral, 

 obliquely apiculate at the apex, surrounded at the base by the 

 calyx, which has a stout cylindrical base, and three deep, broad, 

 oblong divisions, by a corolla of three cordate ovate petals, equal 

 in length to the calyx, and by six sterile stamina ; on one side 

 may be found two abortive villous ovaries. Seed oblong, with 

 the ventral face rather deeply furrowed, the furrow not reaching 

 quite to the apex, reniform on a transverse section. Albumen 

 with a scaly surface, along this line presenting a cavity filled 

 with spongy tissue; horny, otherwise equal. Embiyo in the 

 centre of the dorsal face. 



* Entire ? specimen of a trunk and crown, and two fruit-bearing spu- 

 dices ; these have been unnoticed since the return of the Assam Deputation 

 in 1836 : seeds since received have germinated. 



