FLORA OF NEW PROVIDENCE AND ANDROS 139 



The long naked and apically scarious and bilabiate spathes are 

 strikingly different from those of Copernicia. The inflorescence is 

 much longer and more slender than that of Serenoa, but in other re- 

 spects has greater resemblance than to that of Copernicia. The leaves, 

 on the other hand, are more like Copernicia, though the presence of a 

 true midrib, even if very small, with one or two segments inserted 

 somewhat above the base may be taken as a further sign of affinity 

 with Serenoa. 



The present genus will probably accommodate the palm from 

 Puerto Rico {Sintenis, 6512) referred by Professor Drude to Coper- 

 nicia, but having no spathes on the branches. Grisebach and Wend- 

 land described from Cuba, Copernicia Wrightii, which may also belong 

 to Paurotis. 



Hitherto Copernicia has been the only known West Indian genus 

 of fan-palms with spiny petioles. The type of Copernicia is C. cerifera 

 (Arruda) from Brazil, but the Cuban species of the genus seem to 

 resemble Paurotis even less than the Brazilian, since they have the 

 inflorescence more robust and compact and the spathes more strongly 

 developed. The species listed by the Index Kewensis as Copernicia 

 maritima (Coryphamaritima H. B. K.) and Copernicia pumos (Corypha 

 pumos H. B. K.) have smooth petioles according to the original de- 

 scriptions, and should have been transferred to Thrinax rather than 

 to Copernicia. Although treated as a synonym of Copernicia in the 

 Index Kewensis the generic name Crysophila Blume had priority of 

 publication, as shown by the fact that it is cited by Martius in connec- 

 tion with the original description of Copernicia. It seems probable, 

 however, that Crysophila is distinct from Copernicia as indicated by 

 Drude. Its type, C. nana (H. B . K. ) , came from the region of Acapulco, 

 Mexico. The petiole is unarmed, and other characters are quite at 

 variance with those of Paurotis. 



Paurotis Androsana sp. nov. 



Trunk 3 to 4 m. high, very slender, 5 to 6.5 cm. in diameter, rough 

 with irregular scalelike leaf bases; leaves tufted, flat, orbicular; 

 petioles 52 cm. long, 15 mm. thick at base, 10 to 12 mm. at apex, not 

 including the spines, 5 mm. thick at base, 3 mm. at apex ; upper face 

 moderately concave, subcarinate in the middle distad; lower face 

 strongly convex in the middle, concave on each side; upper surface 



