294 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. [(. ramosissimus. 
armed with slender, acicular, ascendent spines; the blade about 40-50 cm. long with 
two acute keels, these spinulous in their lower portion; the upper spathes gradually 
shorter, but always longer than their respective inflorescences, those of the summit 
laneeolate, acuminate; the axis of the spadix between two partial inflorescences smooth, 
irregularly and obsoletely angular aud more or less superficially, often  obsoletely 
pitted from pressure of the flowers in the bud; partial inflorescences panicled, broadly 
pyramidate, rather dense, the larger ones, the lowest, 15-30 cm. long with many 
distichous, erecto-patent, gradually diminishing secondary branchlets, of which the 
lower ones the largest, 8-10 cm. Jong and with 8-10 spikelets on each side; the axis 
of the inflorescences and of the branchlets slender but rigid, straight or very slightly 
sinuous; secondary spathes shortly tubular and more or less prolonged at one side 
into a membranous acute or acuminate and sometimes lanceolate limb; spikelets erecto- 
patent, delicate, small, their axis slender, closely zig-zag sinuous, the lower ones, the 
largest, 2-3 em. long with 8-10 distichous flowers on each side, those of the summit 
about 1 em. long with 3-4 flowers on each side; spathels very approximate, densely 
hairy-furfuraceous, bracteiform, with a short subobtuse point which is pushed down 
by its own flower; involucre orbicular, almost explanate-disciform. Male flowers distich- 
ously inserted at an angle of about 45°, at first ovate-acute, when full grown slender, 
subterete, 3:0-4 mm. long, the calyx tubular, slightly striately veined, truncate at 
the base, with 3 broad obtuse or acute lobes, which are often hairy-penicillate at 
the apex; the corolla twice as long as the calyx, divided down almost to the base 
into 3 oblong-linear, acute, externally shining segments; filaments shortly connate at 
the base, subulate, inflected at the apex; anthers linear, narrowly sagittate, rather 
acute, versatile; the cells discrete to the middle; rudimentary ovary slender, reaching 
to about the middle of the corolla, formed by a short columnar part which terminates 
in 3 long subulate points. Female spadiz simply  decompound, erect and rigid, 
usually shorter than the male ones and with a more robust axial part, rusty- 
furfuraceous throughout;  spathes as in the male spadix; partial inflorescences 
erect with an axillary callus and a distinct transverse fovea; the lower ones, the 
largest, 15-17 cm. long with 8-10 spikelets on each side; spikelets ratber thick, 
erecto-patent or when in fruit subhorizontal, 3-5 cm. long with 15-20 very 
approximate flowers on each side; spathels densely furfuraceous, very short bracteiform, 
broad, concave, obtuse, deflexed; involucrophorum subtended by its own spathel and 
attached at the base of the one above, shallow, calyculiform, prolonged into an 
obtuse deflexed point on the side of the neuter flower; involucre shallow, calyculiform, 
slightly concave, irregularly lobate, distinctly veined; areola of the neuter flower 
punctiform. Female flowers crowded, inserted at an angle of 45°, ovate-conic, 3 mm, 
long; the calyx flat and callous at the base, boldly striately veined, its teeth short. 
broadly triangular, acute, with broad polished margins; the corolla slightly longer 
than the calyx, its segments acute and polished outside; stamens united by their 
bases into a thin membranous cup, which is crowned by 6 triangular te eth; anthers 
sterile, flattened, broadly sagittate and very obtuse; ovary oblong-ovate with a short 
stout style and thick lamellose recurved stigmas. Neuter flowers as long as the 
female ones, but thinner. Fruiting periant almost explanate, not or very shortly 
pedicellitorm, and with the corolla twice as long as the calyx. Fruit broadly ovoid 
or globose-ovoid, rounded to both ends, topped by a narrow and rather long (2 
mm.) beak, 8-10 mm. broad and 13-14 mm. long, including the beak; scales in 
