128 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. re. Flagellum 
asymmetrically infundibuliform with truncate and discoloured subscarious margin, more 
or less produced at one side into a split and  lacerated tip; involucre cupular, 
truncate, shorter than its own spathel. and laterally adnate at the base of the one 
bove. Male flowers elongate, acute, 8-11 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, outwardly curved, 
half-projecting from the spathel; calyx divided down almost to the middle into 3 
lobes; corolla not quite twice as long as the calyx, almost entirely divided into $ 
lanceolate, acute segments; stamens with subulate filaments not inflected at the apex 
and united at the base with the corolla; anthers large, broadly linear, attached to 
the middle; rudiment of the pistil formed of 3 small acicular bodies. Female spadix 
very nearly the same as the male; partial inflorescences very few (5-6 at most); 
spikelets very remote, elongate (20-35 cm. long), subcylindrical, vermicular, curved 
downwards, inserted near the mouth of their respective spathes; spathels infundibuliform, 
rather elongate with the margin truncate and withered, produced on one side into a 
triangular and lacerated point; involucrophorum unilaterally cupular, truncate, nearly 
exserted from its own spathel and attached at the base of the one above; involucre 
cupular, truncate, almost entirely immersed in the involucrophorum; areola of the 
neuter flower distinctly lunate. Female flowers conical-ovoid acute, relatively large 
(about 7 mm. long); calyx ovate, very shortly 3-dentate; petals lanceolate, acute, a 
little longer than the calyx; stamens with triangular, subulate filaments highly connate 
at the base; anthers sagittate, blunt; ovary ovate, crowned by the trigonous stigmas. 
Neuter flowers narrower than the female ones, but nearly as long, soon deciduous. 
Fruiting perianth explanate (not pedicelliform); its calyx completely split; its 
corolla mareescent. Fruit large, when perfectly ripe about 3 cm. long by 20-22 
mm. in width, broadly ovoid, rounded at the base, abruptly and shortly beaked ; 
scales very large, in 12 longitudinal series, channelled along the middle, of a dirty 
straw colour with a dark intramarginal line, lighter finely erose margins and 
obtuse apex. Seed regularly ovoid, rounded at the base, slightly narrowing towards 
the obtuse apex, circular in section, 20-22 mm. long and 13-15 mm. in diam., 
covered with a dry (at first fleshy) adherent coat, and minutely pitted on the surface 
beneath the coat; chalazal fovea very superficial and indistinct; albumen deeply 
ruminate; embryo 3-4 mm. long, basilar. 
HaBrrar —N. E. India. The type specimens, which I have seen iu the 
Herbarium at Kew, were gathered by Major Jenkins at Golaghat on the River 
Dhunseeri in Assam. It grows also on the Khasia Hills at Churra (Hooker f. 
& Thomson in Herb. Kew), in Cachar in the Daarbund pass and at Shapore (Keenan 
in Herb. Kew’; in Eastern Bengal on the Soorma Hooker f. & Thomson in Herb. 
Kew); in Sikkim, where according to Anderson it is by far the commonest Calamus, 
from the level of the plains as high as Kurseong (1370 m.); amongst the 
Podocarpus (Hooker f. & Thomson in Herb. Kew); Dulka-Jahr (Gambie). 
The canes, though very long (this Palm reaching to the top of the highest 
trees) are soft and useless (Anderson). It receives the vernaculur names according 
to Gamble) of ‘Rabi Bet” by the Nepalese, of “Reem” by the Lepchas, and 
of ‘‘Nagagola Bet" in Assam. The fruit is edibie (Hooker f.). 
OssrnvaATIONs,— Griffith has given a long and accurate description of the male 
plant of this species of which I have examined the original specimens in the 
Herbarium at Kew. 
