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M. rumphii] METROXYLON. 175 
Prare 107.—Fig. 1.—Metroxylon’ Rumphii var. sylvestre Becc. Two fruits: 
received: from: Buitenzorg, coming from Wést Ceram and named “ Sagu Ihor.” 
9d. METROXYLON RuwPH var. CERAMENSE Becc. 
Pescriprion.—I consider as representing this variety of M. Rumphit a form, 
evidently very common in Ceram, which differs from the type only in its smaller 
globular, non-depressed or oblong fruits, and in. having leaves with very broad 
leaflets. Of this variety the natives recognize 4 secondary varieties distinguished 
by the following names: "Sagu Ceram”; ^*$. Merah” (or red); "S. putih” (or 
white); * S. hitam” (or black) All have spinous petioles. 
9d'. Subvar PLATYPHYLLUM Bece. 
One leaflet is remarkably largo, being 1°75 m. long and 12°5 em. broad with 
its margins ciliate-spinulous, especially from the middle upwards. The only fruit I 
have seen is ovoid-oblong, rounded above, not attenuate below, and excavate at the 
base; it is 37 mm. long, and 26 mm. across; the scales are deeply grooved, the 
largest 8 mm. broad in the exposed part, with the apices slightly produced, and 
bluntish, the margins narrowly discoloured, and finely erosely-toothed. The fruit 
is almost the same as in the variety ceramense rubrum, but the specimens of the 
leaflet are considerably larger. If the wideness of the leaflets and the form of the 
fruit were constant characters, this would be a very distinct variety. 
Hapirat.—At Amahai on the south coast of Central Ceram, Native name 
“Sagu Ceram.” 
Əd”. Subvar. RUBRUM Bece.—One leaflet is rather large but relatively narrow, 
70 m. long, 7°5 cm. broad ; the margins have few and short spines; the mid-costa 
is slightly spinulous near the apex. One fruit is ovoid-oblong, rounded above, not 
attenuate. below, and excavate at the base, 3 cm. long, 22 mm. in diameter; scales 
deeply grooved, slightly produced in bluntish apices, the largest 8 mm. broad in 
the exposed part, the margins very narrowly discoloured, finely erosely-toothed. 
Haprrat.—Amahai in Ceram. Native name “ Sagu merah.” 
21". Subvar. ALBUM  Becc.—One leaflet is 1°65 m. long, 10'5 em. broad; the 
margins and the mid-costa slightly spinulous near the apex. Fruit globular, 32 mm. 
in diameter, rounded above, the base excavate ; the largest scales 9—10 mm. wide 
in the exposed part, deeply grooved, slightly broader than long, the margins very 
narrowly discoloured, finely erosely-toothed. ; 
Hapirat—Amahai in Ceram. Native name “Sagu putih.” 
Under this same native name I also received from West Ceram another speci- 
men, which slightly difters from -the one from Amahai in having smaller fruits, 
very slightly longer than broad, 25—27 mm., broad 26—30 mm. high ; the pericarp 
is considerably more spongy at the base than above ; the scales are less convex 
and with the apices more distinctly prolonged and acute. 
od". Subvar. wiGRUM Becc.—One leaflet is 166m. long and 9 cm. broad, has 
the margins rather densely ciliate-spinulous, and the mid-costa slightly spinulous 
near the apex. One fruit is globular, 3 cm. in diameter, rounded abovo and 
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