248 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. [C. Helferianus. 
Desorterion.—Scandent and slender. Stem. . . . e . ; Leaf-sheaths . . . 
. . Leaves not cirriferous, rather large (not seen entire); petiole. . . . . .; rachis 
fugaciously rusty-furfuraceous, acute and bifaeed above in its upper portion, roundish, 
polished and unarmed below, or sometimes showing here and there vestiges of- small 
claws; leaflets rather numerous, in the basal portion of the rachis distinctly grouped 
in fascicles of 2-5 on one side, equidistant and in each fascicle disposed in one plane 
and not pointing differeat ways; the fascicles with vacant spaces 8-10 cm. long amongst 
them, often opposite and towards the summit of the leaf more distant and with fewer 
leaflets than lower down; furthermore the leaflets are very narrowly lanceolate or 
linear-lanceolate, or narrowly ensiform, sometimes very elongate, attenuate at the base 
and gradually acuminate into a very acute and subulate apex; this more obtuse and 
somewhat bristly-penicillate in the upper ones, subshining, green even when dry, sub- 
5-costulate; the 3 central costae, of which that of the middle slightly stronger than 
the side ones, sparingly spinulous, the other two more slender, naked or here and 
there spinulous; lower surface slightly paler than the upper one with all nerves faint 
and naked; margins with very small appressed spinules visible only under the lens; 
transverse veinlets sinuous, much interrupted and’ not very crowded; the largest leaflets 
in one specimen 30-32 em. long and 15 mm. broad, in another 20 em, long, 15-15 
mm. broad; the two of the terminal pair a third shorter than the others, but of the 
same breadth or slightly narrower, free at the base, opposite or slightly decurrent one 
on the other and of unequal size, Male spadiz (judging from the portions seen by 
me) flagelliform, lax, slender, very elongate, ultradecompound, glabrous in every part; . 
lowest primary spathe flattened, elongate, acutely two-edged, unarmed, produced at 
the summit into a lanceolate point; upper primary spathes tubular, very eiongate, 
cylindraceous or slightly compressed, very strictly sheathing, long and gradually narrow- 
ed to the base, where flat on the inner side, sparingly armed on the back along 
the middle with rather long and slender aculei, and prolonged at the summit into 
a short, lanceolate, acute, herbaceous limb keeled on the back; partial inflorescences 
slender and long, the lower ones the largest, in one specimen up to 50 cm. long, with 
10-20 remote branches, of which 2-3 near the base are 10-12 cm. long, branched again 
and with spikelets right and left; the upper ones undivided and with simple spikelets ; 
secondary spathes longitudinally finely striately veined, green, tubular, elongate, slightly 
enlarged above, truncate and glabrous at the mouth, indistinctly apiculate on one side; 
spikelets of the secondary branches 3-4 cm. long, the others 4-6 cm. long, attached 
above the mouth of their own spathe with a distinct axillary callus, slender, straight 
or flexuose, spreading or deflexed, bearing distichously on each side 5-10 exactly 
horizontal rather remote (1°5-2 mm. apart) flowers; spathels cylindraceous at the base 
with a very shortly infundibuliform truncate limb, apiculate at one side;, involucre 
laterally adnate outside its own spathe to the base of the one above and almost 
hollowed into this, sballowly cupular with very short circular entire limb. Male flowers 
ovate-oblong, obiusely apiculate, 4 mm. long; calyx coriaceous, short, campanulate, not 
veined outside, its teeth very broad, triangular, superficial, rather acute; corolla almost 
twice as long as the calyx, divided down almost to the base into three oblong, acute 
segments, subshining outside; filaments of the stamens shortly united at the base, 
subulate with inflected apices in the bud; anthers versatile, elongate; rudimentary ovary 
very short, formed by three yery small, acute, connivent bodies, Female spadiz (not 
