* 
Z. vermicularis. ZALACCA. | 7E ee 
and even surface, is very irregularly and obtusely subtrigonous. or. at times 
almost globular, 15—16 mm. in diameter, and has an apical pit and a large basal 
embryo. 
HasrrAr.—Amboina. The specimens of this distinct variety (or perhaps species) 
were ‘collected on the 23rd August 1913 at Kusy-Kusy Sereh by the late C. B. 
Robinson, and one of them was forwarded to me by Mr. Merrill of the Manila 
Herbarium. 
OnskRvATIONS.— The specimen upon which this variety is established differs from 
those of the plant cultivated at Buitenzorg (considered as representing the type of 
Z. edulis) in its leaves, which are much narrower and more regularly set on the 
rhachis. Of this Amboinese Zalacca the male spadices are unknown, and of the 
supposed. type ihe fruits are wanting; so it is possible that when the two shall 
be better known, they may be found not to be specifically identical. The plant 
collected by Robinson ean be only be considered as partially representing Rumph's 
Zalacca. i 
PLATE 43.—Zalacca edulis var. amboinensis Bece.—Portion of the petiole and | 
of the intermediate part of a leaf; spadix bearing young fruits; mature fruits and 
seed. The entire specimen. in Herb. Beccari. 
15. ZALACCA EDULIS var. RIOWENSIS Becc. 
Descriprion.—It differs from the plant considered as the type by the male 
spadices being much shorter, only about 25 cm. long. having the branchlets sup- 
porting the spikes also shorter; but otherwise it is in every respect, even in its 
leaves with their unequidistant leaflets, white underneath, not distinguishable from 
the type. The petiole is very powerfully spinous. 
Hapirat.—It was cultivated in the Botanic Garden at Buitenzorg and said to 
have been introduced from Riow; I gathered my specimens of it in the year 1878. 
" : : 
PLATE 44.—Zalacea edulis var. riowensis Becc.—Lower portion of a leaf and 
petiole; fragment of a leaf: from above the middle. Male spadix“ Specimen in 
Herb. Beccari from the plant cultivated at Buitenzorg mentioned above. 
3. ZALACCA VERMICULARIS Becc. Malesia, iii, 66. 
Descriprion.—Leaves very large. Leaflets (alternately equidistant ?), coriacious, 
green and glossy above, dull whitish or ashy grey beneath; the intermediate very 
broadly linear, slightly sigmoid at the base, asymmetrically acuminate and slightly 
faleate at the apex, up to 90 cm. long, and 7—8 em. broad, strongly tricostulate ; 
the transverse veinlets sharp and very approximate. Male spadices (or perhaps 
only their primary branches) arising erect from the axillas of the leaves, about 
35 em. long, forming a rather loose cupressiform panicle, composed (in 2 specimens) 
of only 7 alternate branches, each arising from a broad, acuminate, embracing 
spathe, and bearing only one spike. ‘The general spathes are concave, elongate, 
acuminate, and ass-ear like, thinly membranous, easily splitting. longitudinally, 
ANN. Roy. Bot. GARD., CALCUTTA, VOL. XII. 
