170 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. [ M. rumphii 
dots (microlepidia); on each side of the mid-costa are 2—3 secondary nerves, 
not very distinct, but marked on the upper surface. by faint..furrows ; tertiary nerves, 
rather numerous, slender; transverse veinlets very numerous, much interrupted, 
not always sharply distinct. The intermediate and largest leaflets are 1—1:2) m. 
long, and in their broadest part, at about their middle, 6—8 cm. wide; the upper 
leaflets speedily become considerably “smaller: the lower leaflets are smaller than 
the mesials, and have the apex more lengthily filamentose. Inflorescence terminal, 
very large, composed of several partial inflorescences, each sprouting from the axilla 
of one of the uppermost leaves, which, however, when the fruits are mature, 
perish with the entire plant. The partial inflorescences are 1°5 to 2:50 and more 
metres long, simply branched, since the first divisions of the main axis carry the 
spikes ; an entire partial inflorescence which I measured was 2°60 m. long, inelading 
its peduneular or unbranched part; the latter was a little below 1 m. in length, 
arched outwards, subterete or slightly flattened, 6 em. in diameter at its base, 4 cm. 
above, clothed with several coriaceous spathes, tubular and closely sheathing in 
their lower part, obliquely spread open into an ass's ear—like blade above and 
having a triangular acuminate point ; such spathes are furfuraceous and covered 
on their backs with horizontal series of confluent spinules, 5—10 mm. long; the 
entire axial part. of the inflorescences gradually narrows above. and continues to be 
clothed with spathes, similar to those just deseribed, but gradually smaller, each 
alternately shielding the base of a spike bearing branch ; oa the whole one entire 
partial inflorescence is composed of several (15 in one specimen) spike-bearing, 
arched, spreading branches, the lowest of which, being the largest, is 40—50 cin. 
long, and carries alternately on each side, 4—5 spikes ; the branches terminate in 
a very short blunt point, formed by vacuous spathels ; the spathes of the branches 
at the axillas from which spring the spikes, are 5 cm. long. rigid-pavyraceous. 
eylindraceous, closely sheathing, unclosed along one side, gaping above, and 
terminating in a spreading usually lacerated and withered point. are glabrous and 
smooth in their lower part, and covered with very slender, scattered spinules above ; 
the axial part of the branches at the base of every spathe is flat at one side, and 
is densely woolly on the margins. The spikes are supported by a pedicellar part 
about as long as their respective spathes and are inserted at the bottom of the 
latter; the pedicellar part is flat on the axial side, has the margins tomentose, and 
is sheathed in its upper half part by a special spathe which terminates in a triangular 
point embracing the base of the spike ; the spike itself is provided at the base with 
2—3 other gradually smaller spathes. Spikes cylindrical, 10—12 em. long, obtuse, 
15 mm. in diameter (not taking into account the flowers) and of a tomentose 
appearance, having the spathels very slightly exserted from the wool of the flower 
bracteoles ; a transverse section of the spikes shows ‘3 broad reniform chestnut 
brown glabrous striately-veined spathels, more or less united at the base by their 
margins, and having a short triangular obtuse point; in the axilla of every spathel 
nestle two. flowers, one of which is a male and the other. a female or more 
correctly a semi-hermaphrodite. The special flower bracteoles are. very small, very 
thinly membranous, brown, and completely disguised by the villosity that covers 
them. and in which the flowers are half immersed. The male and female flowers 
at a certain period of the development of the spadix, are nearly equally evolute - 
. on the same spike, perfectly equal and arranged with great regularity, following 
Ld 
