194 



ACANTHOPHCENIX 



83. Acanthophoenix crinita. 



exclusively to the Mascarene Isls., Mauritius and 

 Bourbon. G.C. II. 22:426. 



These are tall palms or sometimes of moderate 

 stature, the spiny and often ringed trunks conspicuously 

 swollen at the base. Horticulturally, they have not 

 figured very prominently in the trade in this country, 

 but they are among the finest of cultivated palms in 

 the collections of fanciers and botanic 

 gardens. 



They should be grown in a warm 

 house, from 70 to 90 , never less than a 

 night temperature of 55 to 60. They 

 will root best in a soil composed as 

 follows: loam three parts, peat one 

 part, leaf-mold one part, mixed with 

 a little sand or crushed charcoal. The 

 drainage, so long as the plants are in 

 pots and tubs, must be very good, as 

 they require much water. If possible, 

 when the plants are 6 feet or more, 

 plant out permanently. 



Propagation is only by seeds, 

 which frequently require two to 

 three years to germinate. The seeds 

 should be placed in a seed-pan and 

 kept in a warm, moist place. 



crinita, H. Wendl. (Areca crinita, 

 Bory). Fig. 83. Trunk 50-60 ft,: 

 Ivs. 7-13 ft. long; petiole densely 

 tomentose, 4-8 in. long; If .-sheath 

 2J^-4J^ ft. long, thickly covered 

 with short brown bristles and 

 spines; segms. silvery white beneath: spadix 1-2 ft. 

 long, brown, woolly and with slender brown spines; 

 perianth reddish pink, or sometimes whitish: fr. 

 M-Hin. long. F.S. 16:1706. F.R. 2:201. Young 

 plants have pale yellowish green Ivs. 



rubra, H. Wendl. (Areca rubra, Bory. Calamus 

 Verschaffeltii, Hort.). Trunk 60 ft.: Ivs. 6-12 ft. 

 long; petiole glabrous, 2-4 in. long; If .-sheath 

 2}i-4J^2 ft. long, thickly covered with long, brown- 

 black spines; pinna; slightly glaucous beneath: 

 spadix 2J^-3J^ ft. long, armed with straight black 

 spines; perianth reddish brown: fr. globose. J^- 

 %in. in diam., with a prominent ridge extending 

 from the stigma to the base. Young plants have 

 dark green Ivs. with red veins. N. TAYLOR, t 



ACANTHORHlZA (Greek for thorn, 

 and rhiza, root). Palmacese, tribe Cory- 

 phex. A genus of tropical American 

 medium-sized palms. 



Leaves crowded at the end of the < 

 trunk, palmate, 3 to many, divided to -^-. 

 the base, but the segms. stalkless, and - ^ 



in age becoming typically 3-4 divided, 84. Acanthorhiza 



ACANTHUS 



the segms. then wedge-shaped; If. -stalk flattened, very 

 persistent, slender and smooth, the sheath short and 

 fibrous; as the Ivs. unfold the margins are bent inward, 

 the external faces applied together: infl. flattened at 

 first, the short peduncle and thickening branches, 

 white, bracteate, the bracts diminishing downward ; fls. 

 cream-white, in spike-like, dense clusters, these race- 

 mose; stamens quite free, differing from Trithrinax, 

 where they are united to form a tube. It has never 

 been known to fruit in cult. Three or four species only 

 are known, all from Trop. Amer., but not so well 

 known to the trade as their great beauty and stately 

 dimensions deserve. G.C. II. 22:426. 



These palms have spineless trunks, except at the 

 base, where the aerial roots subsequently harden into 

 stiff downward-pointing spines; differing in this from 

 Trithrinax, the nearest relative. 



They should be grown as stove palms, a night tem- 

 perature not less than 60 being preferable. If possible, 

 plant out the tall plants, as they do much better when 

 not disturbed by subsequent repotting. A good mix- 

 ture should contain good, fibrous loam and considerable 

 sand. 



Propagation is only by seeds, sown preferably in 

 the spring, in fresh peat over bottom heat. 



aculeata, H. Wendl. (Cham&rops stauracdntha, Hort,). 

 Fig. 84. St. 30-40 ft., spiny at base through 

 the thickening of the aerial roots: Ivs. orbic- 

 ular, much cut in young trees, subsequently 

 3-4-divided and palmate in the older specimens, 

 5 ft. in diam., whitish beneath; If. -stalk 3^4 ft.: 

 infl. and fls. dark creamy pink; fls. spicate, 

 . thick and coriaceous ; calyx lobes erect, oblong, 

 equaling the roundish and 

 concave petals. Mex. I.H. 

 26:367. B.M. 7302. Suc- 

 ceeds in an intermediate 

 house. 



Chuco, Drude (Thrinax 

 Chiico, Mart,). Trunk smooth, 

 about 30 ft. high, usually not 

 more than 5 in. in diam., 

 slender, flexuous: Ivs. orbic- 

 ular, with a narrow sinus at 

 the base, usually 10-25 in a 

 cluster; petioles slender, 3-6 

 ft. long, smooth; blade 6 ft. in diam., divided to 

 or beyond the middle; segms. 15-20, lanceolate, 

 acute, 1-2 in. wide, dark green above, paler and 

 glandular below: fls. and fr. unknown, except 

 from a wild specimen in which the fr. is described 

 as yellow and about 1 in. diam. Brazil. 



The following species are rarely seen outside botanic gar- 

 dens, and need stove temperature: A. Wdllisii, H. Wendl. 

 Gt. 28:977. A. Warscewlczii, H. Wendl. Panama. Gt. 25:860. 



N. TAYLOR, t 



ACANTHUS (akanthos, thorn). Acanthacex. 

 BEAR'S BREECH. A genus of twenty species of tem- 

 perate Old World, mostly hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nials of vigorous growth and broad pinnatifid foli- 

 age, suitable for backgrounds of borders and sub- 

 tropical effects. 



Height 3-4 ft.: spikes 1-1 Y ? ft. long; fls. dull 

 white to rose or purplish, sessile, spicate, densely 

 clustered; corolla 1-lipped, the lip 3-lobed; anthers 

 1-celled, ciliate. Mostly S. Eu. 



They need a rich, light, well-drained soil and 

 l much sunshine. Excessive moisture is fatal, 



j especially in winter and spring. Fall-planted 

 '"/. stock should always be protected for the 

 K winter by long litter or evergreen boughs, 

 r ~ even where established plants are hardy. 

 -'-": . Must be deeply mulched north in winter. 

 Propagation is by division in spring or early 

 aculeata. autumn, and by seeds. 



