78 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. (D. Sepal. - 
all unarmed; the flowering panicle about 15 em. long with very few (4) partial 
inflorescences ; the axial parts fugaciously rusty-furfuraceous ; the internode between 
the first and second spathes very slender, somewhat flattened, 2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad ; 
partial inflorescences about 6 cm. long with many branchlets; spikelets always very 
short and very few flowered; the lowest of each branchlet, thelilargest, 12-13 mm. 
long with 2-3 flowers on either side and with an additional 1-2 flowered  branch- 
let at its base; their axis zig-zag sinuous, loosely and slightly furfuraceous and not 
scabrid ; spathels bracteiform, amplectent, produced externally into a broadly trian- 
gular and comparatively large limb of which the acute or acuminate and 
hairy tip exceeds the rim of the involuere ; the latter cupular, truncate, usually 
with two rather acute and hairy teeth on its posticous side and with a distinct 
callus at its axilla. Male flowers oblong, obtuse, with almost parallel sides, not very 
slender in proportion to their length (5 mm. long, 2-5 mm. broad); the calyx 
superficially 3-toothed ; the corolla twice as long as the calyx, Fruiting  spadiz about 
30 em. long, divided into four partial inflorescences (in one specimen) erect or 
lightly nodding, supported on a pedicel that is 3-5 em. in length, flattened, 5 mm. 
broad, with acute and spinulous edges; the main axis rigid, glabrous, not swollen 
at the nodes; the secondary and tertiary spathes bracteiform, elongate-triangular, 
very acuminate ; partial inflorescences about 8 cm. long. carrying 5-6 spikelets only ; 
the largest of these, the lowest, 4 cm. long, with four flowers on either side, their axis 
angular, sinous; spathels bracteiform, amplectent, produced on one side into a trian- 
gular, acute or acuminate point, which equals in length or even exceeds the 
involucrophorum ; the latter slightly obconical, somewhat stout, obsoletely angular, 
expanded at its apex into an asymmetric subcupular and unilaterally acute or 
acuminate limb; involucre cupular, truncate, entire, almost entirely immersed in 
the involuerophorum ; areola of the neuter flower very distinct, slightly depressed 
and strongly callous. Fruiting pertanth not quite explanate or with the calyx 
broadly obconical. Fruit ovoid-elliptical or subovoid, very suddenly and  stoutly 
beaked, 24-25 mm. long including the beak, 14-15 mm. broad; scales in 18 
longitudinal series, tawny-brown with dark marginal line, not very shining, 
channelled along the centre and with an exactly triangular, not produced tip. Seed 
globular (not seen quite mature). 
Hasrrar.— The Malayan Peninsula; on the Gunong .Tambang Badak in the 
district of Perak (Scortechini No. 426° in Herb, Beccari). At Larut also in the dis- 
trict of Perak, between 900—1200 m. (Sir George King’s collector No. 4133 in 
Herb. Calcutt.). Malayan name “ Rotang Sepal” (Scortechini.). 
OBSERVATIONS, — D. Sepai is characterized by its slender stem; the not very closely- 
set leaflets, the flattish, bi-convex, moderately long petiole; the shortly pedicellate, 
superaxillary spadices, with few (only four) spathes, the outermost armed with very 
slender and long spines, and prolonged into a beak of not more than one-third of 
its entire length; and by the obovoid-elliptical fruit, suddenly and stoutly beaked, 
with tawny scales arranged in 18 longitudinal series and having an exactly trian- 
point. The fruit in Scortechin’s No. 430^ (that described above) is not 
quite mature, but apparently has attained its full size. The fruit therefore 
appears much smaller than that of D. imbellis and with smaller and more numerous 
