July 1891.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 177 



planes with respect to the midrib in regular alternation so as 

 entirely to get rid of the stiffness that would result in the 

 case of so long a leaf, if the ordinary arrangement were 

 followed. These pinnae are themselves long and narrow, and 

 being of slight substance they cannot stand out stiffly for 

 more than half their length, but hang down beyond that 

 distance with very graceful effect. When the tree is old, 

 and has acquired a tall trunk, the leaves ascend from its top 

 at a high angle, drooping slightly towards its extremity, 

 while at the base of the crown are attached a large number 

 of gigantic flower spathes, new and old, dark or light brown 

 according to age, themselves objects of interest from their 

 great size, and contrasting finely with the dark green leaves 

 above. The majesty of the tree cannot be described, but a 

 good idea of it may be gained from a lantern slide which I 

 shall have presently to exhibit. 



These nine complete the number of large native palms 

 which one will be sure to see in the Pomeroon district. But 

 before passing on to other forms of vegetation, it will be well 

 to finish what has still to be said regarding a few other 

 palms, which are either of inconsiderable size or are not 

 certainly indigenous. The latter class contains two in 

 particular, the Paripee and the Cabbage Palm. The Paripee 

 {Bactris minor or Gnlidma spcciosct) is found growing beside 

 almost every Indian house in the forest, planted there for the 

 sake of its fruit, which is much valued. It is not a very tall 

 tree, but has a specially graceful and elegant crown of large 

 feathery leaves. The Cabbage Palm {Oreodoxa oleracea), on 

 the other hand, is tall and slender, with a crown of short 

 leaves. There is a magnificent avenue of them near the 

 Botanical Gardens at Georgetown, and I saw some fine 

 specimens at Anna Eegina. Coco-nuts are cultivated in 

 great numbers in every clearing, and present a distinct 

 feature in the scenery. Then, of the smaller palms, there 

 are many species of Bactris and Geonoma, which are in places 

 abundant, but I had not time to give much attention to 

 them. Lastly, there are several species of climbing palms 

 (Desmoncus), one of which [B. major) I noticed in 

 abundance growing in a tangled mass by the side of the 

 Marooka. Its method of climbing was peculiar. The 

 flexible stem along which the leaves were arranged was 



