Metroxylon. METROXYLON. 159 
Forms of Metroxylon to be considered as varieties, or sub-species, of M. Rumphit 
and of M. Sagus are. M. Sagus var. gogolensis, and M. Sagus var. Peckelianum ; these 
take the place of the Matera varieties in Kaiser Wilhelm Land on the North Coast 
of New-Guinea. 
One fruit of Metroxylon referable also to a variety of M. Rumphii, or of M. Sagus, 
was collected by L. M. D'Albertis on the Fly River, in the south part of New-Guinea, 
demonstrating that the genus Metroxylon is represented in the littoral regions of the 
two opposite extreme ends of the great island. 
Not all the species of Metroxylon flourish in low swampy land near the sea: 
shores, as several thrive best inland on the hill slopes, and in dry situations ; these 
are mainly species referable to the section Celococcus, and inhabitants of the Poly- 
nesian Islands, where they represent one of the most remarkable elements of their 
flora; in this, category are M. vitiense in Fiji; M. salomonense in the Salomon Islands, 
and M. Amicarum in the Carolinas. 
I do not know the distribution limits of M. Warburgii, a native of the New 
Hebrides, nor of JA upoluense of Samoa. ` 
M. bougainvillense appears from a photograph taken by Dr. cai io be a 
plant of the strand Flora in Bougainville Island: On the main land of German New 
Guinea and in the neighbouring New Ireland there also grows a CDI DEED appa- 
rently not differing from M. salomonense. 
In Ceram several varieties of Metroxylon are (oforalito to M. Rumphit and 
M. Kagus, frequently cultivated, or semi-wild, in its West and Central parts, while in 
the Eastern end the new species M. squarrosum, mentioned above, abounds. The 
natives distinguish the following varieties of this last species :—Kilwoi—Killasi— 
Kikaruwa—Kilatan—Kilkow—K iltafook—kK ilkikir. 
The varieties from the central and southern coasts of Ceram (Amabai) are— 
1. Sagu Malat = M. Sagus var. Malat. 
2. » merah = M. Rumphii var. ceramense rubrum. 
S. 4 DES uw M: i VAR. album. 
4. „ hitam = M. i VAR. nigrum. is 
5 5o Ceram = M. A VAR. AE 
| Of each of these varieties I have received from Buitenzorg only one fruit 
and one leaflet, which is too little for a sure identification. The “Sagu Maiat" is 
without spines, and accordingly is referable apparently to M. Sagus ; the other 4 
are indicated as being spinous, and have large leaflets, and fruits smaller than those 
of M. Rumphii (type), but larger than those of M. Rumphi var. micracanthum. 
From the West end of Ceram are— 
1. Sagu Molat = M. Sagus var. molat. 
X 57 Ihor = M. Rumphit var. sylvestre. | 
pH 2 Rota - M is VAR. Rotang sus-var. Makanaro. 
4, , Makanaro = AM. 5 VAR. micracanthum. 
5. 4c MI zc M. ” VAR. micracanthum. 
6. da 
puttih = M. È VAR. ceramense album. 
