16 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. CALCUTTA. C. laevigatus. 
OxservaTions.—A very variable plant,-of which several sub-species could be dis- 
tinguished, if any value could be attached to the size, shape, and arrangement of 
the leaflets on the rhachis; but no appreciable differences are offered by the spadices, 
flowers and fruit. We may recognize the following varieties : 
Var. a (FoRMA TYPICA). With Grifüth's type specimen of C. laevigatus agrees 
Ridleys No. 12120 and Scortechini’s Nos. 123° and 126°. All these specimens have 
leaves with a short pinniferous part and lanceolate leaflets, relatively broad and short, 
15—22 mm. broad, 10—20 cm. long, suddenly contracted at apex, and arranged 
into more or less distant opposite groups. 
Var. 8 nEGULARIE. The leaflets are more elongate and narrower than in var. a 
aud are almost regularly set, opposite-divaricate, those of one side forming a horizontal 
line with those of the opposite side. To this variety is referable Ridley's No. 3489 
from Larut. 
Var. y MAJOR. The fruit is larger than in any other variety, it is ovoid-ellip- 
tical; 25 mm. long, 18 mm. in diameter; the seed is ovoid, 14 mm. long, 10 mm. 
across. Ridley’s No. 7953 from Larut belongs to this variety. 
Var. è ANGUSTIFOLIUS. (King’s collector No. 1879) from Larut on the hills is 
the -type of C. laevigatus var. angustifolius Bece. in Hook. f. l. c. It differs from 
the type in its smaller dimensions and more slender stem; in the" very narrow, very 
acuminate grouped leaflets, and apparently also in its more distinctly conically beaked 
fruits. ] 
Var. € suBANGULATUS. This is Calamus subangulatus Miq. It differs from the 
typical form in having the pinniferous part of the leaves more elongate, with 
12—13 very elongate and narrow leaflets on each side on the rhachis, not grouped, 
but usually regularly opposite and divaricate exactly as in var. #8, often bristly on the 
mideosta on both surfaces. It is the Sumatran form of C. laevigatus, and to it 
belong thè specimens collected by me at Ajer Mantjor (P. S. No. 519). 
Var. E BORNEENSIS. Rather robust; sheathed stem 15 mm. in diameter, rather 
powerfully armed; the leaflets very irregularly set but not so distinctly grouped as 
^in type, relatively large and broad, the largest. 25 cm. long, 25 mm. wide; the spathe 
has some reversed spinules on the margins near the base. To this belongs 
Merrill’s No. 1771- from Sarawak. 
Var. 7 DIVARICATUS. This, established on Halliers No. 2758 from Dutch 
Borneo, is a variety more distinct than all the preceding. The pinniférous part 
is about 60 em. long, with 15—17 leaflets on each side of the rhachis, regularly 
arranged, those of one side exactly opposite to those of the other side, and the 
two forming a horizontal line; they are very narrow, the largest 22—25 cm. long, 
12—14 mm. wide, very gradually acuminate to -a slightly asymmetrical point, 
having a few centimeters from the apex, a small indentation on the lower margin, 
often rendered more visible by a few bristles at that point. 
It is needless to note that the length of 18—30 ft. attributed to leaves of 
C. laevigatus in Hook f. Fl. Brit. Ind. is a “lapsus calami." 
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