182 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. [ M. warburgit 
representing the type specimens in Herb. Beccari. See analytical plate VI in 
which figs. 12—13 represent the flower buds and fig. 14 the vertical section of 
the seed. 
Latin Driagnosis.—Metroxylon squarrosum Bece. sp. nov. Spicarum facie glabres- 
centi ex spathellis bracteolarum tomentum conspicue superantibus ; earum parte 
pedicellari complanato-biconvexa, marginibus obtusis glabris; fructibus parvis globoso- 
turbinatis. 
4. Merrroxyton WarBuRGII Bece. 
Celococcus Warburgi Heim in Bull. Agr. Col. Soc. Frane. de Colonis. 1902, 
p. 25 (extract) figs. 1—5 and in Bull. Soc. Bot. de Fr. i, (1904) 575, figs. 1—5. 
DrescRIPTION:.— Apparently a smaller plant than the other Sago Palms, but 
equally producing a terminal large-branched definite inflorescence. One leaf, appa- 
rently belonging to the upper part of a flowering plant, is on the whole 1°30, m. 
long; the leaf-sheath is coriaceous and provided along the centre of the dorsum 
with some short series of small pungent tubereles ; the petiole is reduced almost 
to nothing; the rhachis is also armed, along the centre of the back, with small 
pungent tubercles; another still smaller leaf, has the sheath unarmed. The 
leaflets are frequently unequidistant or irregularly approximate in twos or threes on 
each side of the rhachis; they. are very rigid-papyraceous or thinly coriaceous, 
ensiform, relatively narrow, very gradually narrowing above into a very long and 
very gradually acuminate flaccid tip; some detached leaflets, apparently from leaves 
of vigorous specimens, are 1:25 m. long and 3°5—5 cm. broad in their lower third 
and broadest part; they narrow a little below, and have reduplicate margins at 
the base; when dry ‘are brown and dull above, and appear to have been con- 
spicuously glaucous underneath; the mid-costa is prominent, sharp and smooth 
throughout above, superficial and without scales or paleole beneath; the secondary 
nerves are unequal, , rather sharp but slender, rendering the blade plicate along 
them; they are not much stronger than several tertiary ones, and altogether con- 
tribute to render both surfaces, but especially the upper one, distinctly striate ; 
transverse veinlets very minute, very close together and interrupted, rather distinct 
on the upper surface; margins acute and smooth or with only a “few rudimentary 
spinules near the apex. Spikelet-bearing branches exactly as in the other 
Metroxylons, and bearing distichally and alternately 2—3 spikes on each side of the 
rhachis; their spathes are tubular-infundibuliform, not very obliquely truncate at 
the mouth and produced at one side into a triangular acuminate point; are 
coriaceous, glabrous, unarmed, and striately veined ; they narrow somewhat at the 
base, where they are flattish and have acute and not villose margins in that part 
which is in contact with the pedicellar part of the underlying spike. The spikes 
are similar to those of M. Rumphit and M. Sagus, but have a glabrous appearance 
and, after the fall of the female flowers, show very regular series of deep pits 
in the places occupied by them; the spikes are 10—11 cm. long, and 15 mm. in 
diameter (exclusive of the flowers); spathels very broad and low, suddenly 
contracted into a triangular and acute point produced beyond the special floral brac- 
teoles ; the latter are more rigid and more developed than in any other Metroxylon 
known to me; the two external bracteoles are connate by their margins and 
embrace the two flowers existing at each spathel and are densely hairy on their 
