74 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. Z. edulis. 
to the identification of that species could be settled at once; otherwise it is 
hopeless to rely for its sure identification on the description and figure given by 
Clusius. Rumph was the first to adopt the Malay name of Zalacca for the same 
Fructus squamosus pyriformis of Clusius; and he also gives a description and a bad 
representation of that plant, stating that it grows not only in Bali, but also im the 
western part of Java; adding that in old times it was thence introduced into the 
Islands of Banda and Amboina. We are therefore justified in considering Rumph's 
Zalacca as a complex species, that includes also the Javan Z. Blumeana. It is however 
more by conjecture than by the evidence of facts that I assume to belong to the 
true Z. edulis the plant cultivated at Buitenzorg, described by me above, which 
was introduced from Amboina, and produces male spadices widely different from 
those of Z. Blu neana, but which from the affinity it presents with the allied 
species, certainly must produce fruits very much lize those of the Fructus squamosus 
pyriformis of Clusis. 
. Z. edulis, as conceived of Ly me, is especially characterized by the male spadices 
quite different from those of Z.  Blumeana Mart. and resembling those of 
Z. vermicularis Bece. In Z. edulis the male spikes are long and flexuose, entirely 
exserted from the spathes; the floral bracts are furnished with very little wool 
and that not visible outside ; the spathels during the anthesis are slightly gaping and 
have very broad but distinct triangular points, which on the whole give a squarrose 
or toothed appearance to the spikes; the. flowers are small, slightly protruding 
beyond the spathels, and have the corolla divided in its upper third into 3 triangular 
segments, spread open during the anthesis. 
PLate 42.—Zalaeca edulis Reinw.—Portion of a leaf near the end. Male spadix 
bearing, specially in their üpper part, young spikes with the flowers still hidden 
within the spathels; branch of the male spadix with spikes during the anthesis. 
From a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (V. G. 21 a’. 
la. ZALACCA EDULIS var. AMBOINENSIS Becc. 
Zalacca (Rottang Zalack), Rumph. Herb. Amb. v, 113, t. 57, f. 2. 
Description.—A note of the collector (C. B. Robinson) says that “the plant 
has leaves over 4 m., with 35 pairs of leaflets or more, often irregular, either 
wanting or else represented by spines. Fruit yellow brown." In my specimen the 
leaflets, in a portion of rhachis 30 cm. long, are equidistant, 60 cm. long, 3°5 cm. 
broad, linear, very slightly sigmoid at the base, and briefly falcate at apex, ashy 
or rusty-grey beneath. A female fruiting spike is very similar to, those of 
Z. Blumeana, but judging from the remnants of the flowers found upon those spikes. 
the female flowers have very thick, oblong, obtuse, tongue-like stigmas. The fruit is 
globose and narrows abruptly at the base; the scales have as usual an up-curved 
spinulous tip, but are broadly grooved on the posticous. part, and only slightly 
keeled at the apices. The seeds have a very abundant fleshy integument, which 
even in the herbarium specimens remains acid, and has the flavour and consistence 
of dried plums; when divested of the integument the nucleus shows a dark brown 
