M. amicarum] METROXYLON. 189 
immediately below the inflorescence, are smaller and have smaller pene than those 
of vigorous and middle-aged plants. 
Ta. METROXYLON AMICARUM var. COMMUNE Becc. 
DzscRiPTION.—A large palm of the habit of M. Rumphii and allied species, 6—8 
m. high, and producing a terminal definite inflorescence (Ledermann). Leaves very 
large ; in a small portion seen by me (Ledermann's No. 13409 in Berlin Her- 
barium), apparently cut from the upper third part of the leaf, the rhachis is 
marked by very minute impressed dots, is totally unarmed, and obsoletely angular 
along the dorsum; the leaflets (in that portion of rhachis) are inserted at an angle 
of about 45°, apparently not disposed all on one plane, and not exactly equidistant, 
but slightly approximate in pairs on each side of the rhachis, linear-ensiform, very 
long-acuminate to a rather stiff apex, l'05m. long, 6 cm. wide (or at times 
more ?), rigid-papyraceous, equally green and glossy on both surfaces or, perhaps, 
of a deeper green on the lower which is glabrous, and devoid of dots or micro- 
lepidia; the mid-costa in the upper surface is very strong, prominent, acute and 
smooth, and is provided, but only near the apex, with a few distant spinules ; 
on the lower surface the mid-costa is superficial, or is represented by a shallow 
furrow and is devoid of paleole, unless these are very early deciduous ; the entire, 
blade looks plicate somewhat irregularly along the secondary nerves (3—4 on each 
side of the mid-costa) and has several other unequal and not regularly spaced 
secondary nerves, barely distinguishable from the numerous tertiary ones ; transverse 
veinlets numerous, and approximate; margins very sharp and smooth. The inflores- 
cence is terminal, 1°5 m. high, 4—5 m. wide (Ledermann), apparently composed of 
several partial spadices or inflorescences, issuing from the axils of the uppermost 
leaves. The portion of spadix seen by me reveals a general structure identical 
with that of the common kinds of Sago Palms; the branches carry distichally and 
alternately a few amentiform spikes exactly as in M. Rumphi and M. Sagus; the 
spathes sheathing the axis of the branches are also similar, tubular-infundibuliform, 
coriaceous, unarmed, very obliquely truncate at the mouth and produced at one side 
into an acuminate limb, dry and deflexed under the base of their respective spathes 
concave, and with the margins acute and woolly in the part that remains in contact 
with the pedicel of the underlying spike; in young spadices the spathes of the 
branches are covered, especially above, with small appressed scales, later they are 
glabrous, and distinctly striately veined. The spikes, at the flowering time, are slightly 
curved upwards, 15—16 cm. long, and 15 mm. in diameter, exclusive of the flowers, 
and 22 mm. when covered with full grown flower buds; the pedicellar part is com- 
pletely concealed by ihe. respective spathes and is attached nearly to the bottom of 
them; its axial side is flat and the acute margins woolly-paleaceous ; the special 
spathe of the pedicellar part is bifid at the apex, and embraces the base of the 
spikes. The spathels (bracts of the spikes) are rigid-membranous, chestnut-brown, 
and, as in M. Rumphîw, three of them are to be seen at the same time in a trans- 
verse section of the spike; these are more or less connate by their margins, 
have only the apices free, triangular, and rather acute, are provided with palea- 
ceous, later deciduous, hairs on the margins and are finely striately veined and glab- 
rous, except for a few appressed scales near the apex. The flowers are very 
