124 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. K. rigida. 
variable plant in the spinescence of the leaf-sheaths, and in the number and shape 
of the leaflets, these being more or less long-attenuate to a cuneate base and 
having more or less: sharply toothed margins. Probably the young not fertile 
plants have leaves with more numerous leaflets than the adult ones. 
The* species is well characterized by its slender habit, and leaves bearing 8—12 
cuneately rhomboidal leaflets ; by its ocreae elongate, closely sheathing, dissolved 
above into a fibrous net; by the small inflorescence with very few short branches 
bearing few erect spikes ; by the flowers oblong-clavate ; by the small globose 
fruits; and by the spherical seed with homogeneous albumen. 
The specimen of the P. B. No. 1914. which I have considered as belonging 
to K. debilis, has also leaves with 6 pairs of leaflets and a very slender cirrus, 
otherwise it is in every respect very similar to Korthals's type specimen of K. 
debilis. but being sterile some doubts remain about its identification. 
Prate 76.—Korthalsia debilis Bl.—Portion of the stem with an entire leaf; 
the end of a flowering plant ; portion of the spadix in flower ; another portion 
with mature fruits. From plants cultivated at Buitenzorg (Herb. Beccari). 
11. KortHaLsia RIGIDA BI. Rumphia, ii, (1336) 167, t. 157; Mart. Hist.. Nat. 
Palm. iii, 211,343; Mig. “FI. Ind. Bat. iii, 79; De Palm. Arc.‘Ind. 
26 (excl. K. Lobbiana H. Wendl.): Prodr. FL Sum. 255; Walp. 
Ann. iii, 492; Hassk. Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. (1866) 73; Becc: 
Malesia, ii, 73; Kurz in Journ, As. Soc., Beng. xviii (1874) 207. 
K. polystachya Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. ili. 210. 343, t. 172. Fig. 1 et Z. 
XIII; Mig. Fl. Ind. Bat. iii, 77; Becc. Malesia, ii, 74; Hook. f. FI. 
/ Brit. Ind. vi, 476. 
Calamosagus polystachyus Griff. in lit. ad Mart. 1846 ex Mart. l. c. 211; 
C. ochriger Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. pp. XII. 31. t. COXVI. 1. 
‘Description.—Slender and high scandent. Sheathed stem 12—18 mm. in dia- 
meter.  Leaf-sheaths quite smooth, or armed (along the ventral side only) with 
small and very short prickles. Ocreae of old leaves cylindrical, coriaceous, closely 
sheathing, 1--2 cm. long, irregularly truncate at their mouths, unarmed or slightly ` 
prickly on the ventral side; in newly expanded leaves, and especially in young plants 
the ocreae are prolonged into a thinly membranous upper part, some centimetres 
in length, more or less disintegrated into a fibrous net, and finally entirely des- 
troyed, leaving only its short truncate, coriaceous base. Intermediate leaves of the 
adult plant 40—50 cm. long, ending in a clawed cirrus about as long or shorter. 
Petiole very short, 2—4 cm. long, or at times almost reduced to nothing, distinct- 
ly callous at its axilla. Rhachis rather powerfully clawed. Leaflets 5—6 on each 
side of the rhachis, alternate, rigid, thinly coriaceous, green and almost glossy 
above, slightly paler or subglaucous beneath, somewhat asymmetrically cuneate- 
rhomboidal, 15—-18 cm. long, 5—7 cm. wide, the upper margins irregularly undu- 
late and erose-toothed, the apex acute or acuminate; main nerves 6—7, slender, 
the central one more prominent than the others; transverse veinlets numerous, 
pellucid and not very prominent; the ansae are slightly rusty furfuraccous, 10—15 
mm. long, not or slightly flattened, and have a thickish base, apparently fleshy in 
the living plant. The uppermost leaves (especially those nearer to the inflorescence) 
i 
