C. javensis] .BECCARL MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS CALAMUS. 181 © 
facetted, the facets plane or slightly concave; albumen equable; embryo almost 
basal or slightly sheathed towards the dorsal side.—The different parts of the plant 
when young are more or less covered with a rusty scurf, more permanent on the 
spikelets and flowers. 
Hasirat,—The Malayan Peninsula, where it seems rather frequent. I have seen 
many specimens gathered in the district of Perak at an altitude of 100-260 m. 
above the level of the sea (Herb. Cale. No, 1996 ( ¢) and No. 2678 (3) and No. 
7932; also Scortechini No. 236 in Herb. Beccari), 
OssERVATIONS.—The typical form peninsularis of OC. javensis must be considered 
that which, more than any other of the numerous forms of this species, resembles the 
Javan plant and which grows at no very great elevation above the level of the sea. 
Probably the stem of this species acquires a great length, but being a species 
much sought for by the natives for its slender and valuable Rotang, only young 
plants which have not. attained their full development are usually met with in the 
jungle. 
It varies in the size of the stem, in the number and shape of the leaflets, in the 
length of the spadices, in the number of partial inflorescences, in the size and length of 
spikelets, and in the first (or lowest) pair of leaflets more or less deflexed and having & 
tendency to embrace the stem. A large and complete spadix which I measured was 
2-5 m. long including 2 m. of peduncular portion, and with only 2 inflorescences, 
respectively 17 and 20 cm. long and bearing 4 spikelets on each side. Another much 
smaller spadix had only one inflorescence 5 cm. long and altogether had 5 small 
spikelets 15-20 mm. long. 
The variety peninsularis differs from the Javan type in the leaflets which are not 
spinulous on the coste, but mainly in the more roundish fruit which has fewer scales 
arranged in 18 instead of 20-21 longitudinal series, 
Probably to C. javensis var. peninsularis must be reduced Roxburgh's penicillatus to 
which this author attributes the leaves with “thirty-four” pairs of leaflets; but the 
old botanists had not the habit of giving the exact number of the organs when these 
were very numerous, and very probably ‘“‘thirty-four” is a misprint for ‘‘three or 
four,” and if this be the case the description of C. penicillatus agrees pretty well with 
that of C. javensis.* | 
CALAMUS JAVENSIS var. PENINSULARIS, subvar, PURPURASCENS Bece. in Hook. f. Fl. 
Brit. Ind. vi, 443. 
Descriprion.—Much resembling in general habit and size the type peninsularis, and 
the var. fetrastichus, Leaflets broader than usual, the two basal strongly deflexed, 
embracing the stem and harbouring ants; sheaths moderately spiny. All parts, but 
specially the leaflets, conspicuously purpurascent. 
Hasrrat.—The Malayan Peninsula: Pulo Penang (Curtis); Perak (No. 7932 in 
Herb. Calcutta.) 
* Colonel Prain states that the manuscript of Roxburgh’s diagnosis shows 3-4, not 34 leaflets. [ Editor. ] 
