THE ILLUSTRATION HORT1COLE. 



ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU 



nat. o E d. PALMAGEAE. 



ETYMOLOGY : From «*pov, star and yapov nut 



GENERIC- CHARACTER.- flares monoici (rentes' suavisshne fragrantes) in eodem 



aperta lignescent. . incto : Mas ( . in superiore ramorum parte dense in abed ,1, 8 



basipro trajicientibus vasis pervius, laciniis 3-angularibua erectis, interior &-partitua vd. 

 erectis membranaceis vel basin versus camosiusculis. Stamina abortu 6 ex imo eilvce ii 

 opposita rara plura plerumque parum exserta (inclusa Endl.) filamentis filiformibus iwl 

 lineari-subsagittatis dorsifixis incumbentibus. Ovarii rudinientum minimum rtrdi \i\ ulli 

 gelatinosuin conicum v. lobatum confluentibus. Fem. infra masculorum gpicas solitarii in 

 sessiles bractea marginali duplici obvoluti ; calyx exterior urceolatus obiter 3-dentatu.s p.i 

 urceolatus-carnosus, ore contracto subtridentato tandem irregulariter 3 fido intus b a -i j, 

 exterior foramine orbiculari pervius. Ovarium ovatum, loculis 2 rudimentariis 1-loculaiv 

 continuus), stigmatibus 3 (distmctis) subulatis (in planta praesertim sobtrigooia intua papilL 

 apice rostrata , monosperma , carne crassiuscula valde fibrosa, putamine osseo vertice triporosi 

 corneum album centro cavum. Embryo intra porum apicalis. — Palmae medioeris altitudinis i 

 sparse vel subcaespitosae degentes. Caudex, exceptis annulis, undique aculis validis at) i< borri 

 pinnis linearibus, approximates . a< dcato-eiliatis. 8] i dices simpliciter ramosi, aculeis vel seti 

 lignescentibus aculeatis inclusi, inter frondes persistentes. Flores masculi flavesceiitcs. del 

 virescenti vel o* tla\a \ 1 aurautiacae, fibroso-carnosae, calve.' per 



(Kunth, Enum. Plant, pi. Ill, p. 271, char. em. III. Iwrt. IV, t. 13*; Walp. Ann. V. p. s;,0). 



Astrocaryum, C. F. W. Meyer. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER: caudescens, elatum, aculeatis simum ; pinnis lanceolatis, subf; 



i ;i ]--[!:. ■;. -■:■.■' ■ ' . ' ■■■'■ . 



spinulosis. Mart. — In sylvis primaevis provinciae Paracusis, pvacs rtii i locis udis. In insula .A 

 Frondes 10-12 pedales; pinnis in quovis latere 30-10 et pluribus. Spadices 3- J pedal»->. v 

 fuscis hirta et subinde aculeis nonnullis armata. Flores masculi pallide oebroleuci. Dropa 

 impresso, inaequaliter pentagona, miniata, sapore suavi, odore recente fere moselii . deinum n 

 (Kunth, Enum. PI, HI, p. 272). 



Astrocaryu.m murumuru, Martius, Gener. et Spec. J'ahimr. p. 78, t. 58, 59. 



This splendid Palm is a native of Brazil and Guyana, 

 inhabiting damp places and the banks of rivers. Its trunk 

 attains a height of 20 to 25 feet , or more , and is quite 

 covered with spines , and bears enormous leaves 10 to 12 feet 

 long, consisting of 30 to 40 pairs of lanceolate slightly, 

 curved leaflets. The spadices exceed a yard in length, and 

 are at first sheathed in spathes about 2 feet long, clothed 

 with brown bristles and prickles. The corolla of the female 



flowers is also bristly. The fruit is pear-shaped and covered 

 with small prickles, red in colour, and about 2 inches long. 

 The Indians are very loud of it. as it possesses a pleasant 

 musky flavour, recalling that of the melon. The specific name 

 ia the Indian appellation. 



This fine species is exceedingly rare in the hot-houses of 

 Europe, but its beautiful habit and large foliage will ensure 

 it a prominent place in choice collections. E. Andre. 



