3tt0 PALM.E. [PJicenix. 



Ovaiy of 3 carpels, uniting in fruit into a 1 -seeded drupe. Embryo on the 

 back' of the albumen. — Stems erect. Leaves pinnate, with entii-e linear 

 segments. Spikes paniculate, issuing from coriaceous sheathing spathas 

 amongst the leaves. Flowers yellowdsh. 



A small genus dispersed over N. Africa aud tropical Asia. 



i. P. acaulis, Roxh.? ; Griff. Palm. 137, t. 228? Leaves glaucous; 

 the segments folded, solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3, about 6 to 8 in. long, 

 by 5 or 6 Hues wide. Spatlias about 6 to 8 in. long, brown, narrow, usually 

 splitting into two. Peduncle above 1 ft. long, with numerous spreading 

 spikes of 3 or 4 in. Flowers small, sessile, on alternate notches of the 

 flexuose rhachis. 



In sunny places, Hance ; also Wright ; and Champion mentions a Phoenix growing near 

 tiie sea. From the specimens we possess, I cannot with certainty distinguish this from the 

 P. jmludosa, Roxb., and I have no information as to its size. If it be the true P. acaulis, 

 it should have a very short bulb-shaped stem. Both species are natives of the plains of 

 India. 



3. RHAPIS, Linn. 



Flowers dioecious or polygamous. Outer perianth cup-shaped, shortly 

 3-lobed ; inner one longer, tubular or campanulate, also 3-lol)ed. Stamens 6 ; 

 filaments filiform ; anthers ovate. Carpels 3, distinct. Drupes 3 or fewer 

 by abortion. — Small Palms, with thin stems and fan-shaped leaves. 



A genus of 2 or 3 species, limited to E. Asia. 



1. R. fiabelliformis, Linn. ; KuntTt,Enum.\\\. 251 ; Bot. Mag. t. 1371. 

 Stems usually 2 or 3 feet high, not much thicker than a finger. Sheaths 

 splitting into brown filaments. Leaves fan-shaped, dividing to near the base 

 into 4 to 10 lanceolate-linear segments, 8 to 10 in. long, minutely denticiJate, 

 with twice as many folds at the base, on a petiole of -j to 1^ ft. Panicle 

 divaricately branched, about 1 foot broad. Flowers pale-yellow, sessile, scat- 

 tered. Drupes obo void-globular, 1, 2, or 3 ripening to each flower. — R. Kwan- 

 ivortsik, Herm. Wendl. ; Seem. Bot. Her. 416. 



In the Happy Valley woods, Hance, WiJforcl. In S. China and lioochoo. Cidtivated in 

 Japan. 



Order CV. PAI^DANACE^. 



Flowers unisexual, densely sessile, in simple or branched spikes or lieads. 

 Perianth none, or rarely 3 or 4 valvate sepals. Male flowers : Stamens several ; 

 filaments filiform. Anthers 2 or 4-ceIled. Female flowers : Ovaries 1-ceUed, 

 entire, with 1 laterally inserted ovule or with many ovules on parietal placentas. 

 Stigma usually sessile. Fruit a berry or di-upe. Embryo small, in the base 

 of a fleshy or homy albumen. — Stems herbaceous, shrubby or arborescent, 

 often branched. Leaves entire or divided. 



A small tropical Order, common to the New and the Old "World. 



1. PANDAiq-US, Linn. 



Flowers dioecious. Males in small dense spikes, sessile in the axils of leafy 

 or coloured bracts, forming a terminal compound spike. Stamens indefinite. 



