178 ANNALS OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, CALCUTTA. [[. pseudo-mirabilis 
slender cirrus; the petiole alone is 35-40 cm. long, 7-8 mm. broad, somewhat 
flattened-biconvex, polished, with very obtuse edges, smooth on the upper surface, 
armed at the base and on the back with a few horizontal, spiculiferous crests, 
and along the margins, and along the centre of the dorsum with black- 
tipped solitary claws; the petiole diminishes abruptly in thickness, and passes 
into the rachis just at the insertion of the lowest leaflets; the rachis, on the upper 
surface, is smooth, and has an acute salient angle, with flat side-faces, and is 
armed on the back with, at first, solitary, but higher up, 3%-nate, 5-nate, and 
finally, but especially on the cirrus, half-whorled claws; leaflets very few, 10-15 
in all, disposed in 3-4 groups, with long vacant spaces interposed; the lowest group 
is the largest and has 6-7 leaflets which are very approximate by their bases, point 
in different directions, and are larger than those of the upper groups; the other 
groups are composed of only 2-4 leaflets, 2-5 cm. apart; the leaflets are 
papyraceous, green and _ subconcolorous on both surfaces, narrowly lanceolate or 
elliptical-lanceolate, broadest about their middle, and thence tapering to a rather acute 
base, and diminishing above to a subulate and bristly tip; they are subtricostulate, 
or with a slender mid-costa, and one secondary nerve on each side of it, stronger 
than the others, all 3 minutely and sparingly spinulous on the under-surface; all - 
nerves very slender and glabrous; transverse veinlets very numerous and approximate, 
very slender but rather sharp on both surfaces; margins closely and very minutely 
spinulous. Male spadiz ... ... Female spadiz forms a rather long, loose and nodding 
panicle when in fruit, 80-85 cm. long, with 6-7 partial inflorescences borne on 
a very short (4 cm. long, 1 cm. broad), flattened, smooth, obtusely two-edged, 
peduncular part; the two first internodes of the main axis slightly flattened 
and slightly clavate, 4-5 cm. long, tbe other internodes more elongate, 
obsoletely angular and distinctly marked by the depressions left by the adjoining 
parts during prefloration; primary spathes........., the lower partial inflorescences very 
loose, 15-18 cm. long, with only 4-5 bifarious spikelets on each side; the upper 
partial inflorescences somewhat shorter and with fewer spikelets; their axes acutely 
angular; secondary and tertiary spathes very small, very shortly annular-amplectent, 
extended! on one side into a very small triangular acute point; spikelets slender, 
the lower 8-10 em. long with 6-7 bifarious flowers on each side, the upper 6-7 
em. in length and with proportional few flowers; they aro kept spreading 
when in fruit by a distinct axillary callus, their axes are zigzag sinuous and very 
acutely angular; spathes very shortly annular-amplectent, produced at one side into 
a triangular point; involucrophorum  pedicelliform, 2-4 mm. long, distinctly callous at 
its axilla, angular, slightly narrowing towards the base, truncate and very slightly 
produced on one side at the upper end; involucre slightly protruding beyond the 
involuerophorum, reduced to a very narrow annular limb round the large circular 
flat scar left by the fallen flower; areola of the neuter flower small but distinct, at least 
in the flowering period, concave, niche-like, with a non-swollen scar. Fruiting perianth 
very broadly obconical, and therefore very shortly pedicelliform. Fruit spherical, 
very shortly and abruptly conical-beaked, 14 mm. in diam. (only one seen by 
me); scales arranged in 15 longitudinal series, strongly convex, distinctly grooved 
along their centres, of a brown-yellowish colour and tinged with red, especially 
posticously ; the margins lighter coloured, scarious, very finely erose; the tip obtuse, 
