D. periacanthus] BEOCARI. THE SPECIES OF DAEMONOROPS. 199 
distinctly swollen at the nodes; the partial inflorescences are 7-10 in number, 
spreading, rather densely panicled-pyramidate; the lowest are 10-12 cm, long and 
have two series of 4-5 branchlets each; the upper inflorescences speedily 
diminishing, while those near the apex are very small and slightly branched; the 
lowest branchlets have each 4-5 not quite flatly-distichous spikelets on each side; 
the other branchlets speedily decrease in length and number of spikelets; secondary 
and tertiary spathes very shortly sheathing, membranous, dry, cimnamon-brown, 
broad, triangular, subulately acuminate, glabrous, striately-veined; all the axial parts 
of the partial inflorescences are rusty and floccosly furfuraceous; spikelets short, 
erecto-patent, the lower of each branchlet 1°5-2 cm. long, and with 7-8 
distichous approximate flowers on each side; the others shorten regularly but rapidly 
and have very few flowers;  spathels almost without a tubular part, concave- 
bracteiform, produced at one side into a broad, triangular, very obtuse, spreading or 
deflexed point; involucre shallowly cupular, orbieuiar, entire or  obsoletely toothed 
on the posticous side. Male flowers 5 mm. long, oblong, obtuse; the calyx cyathi- 
form, very slightly 3-denticulate, finely striately veined; the corolla nearly thrice 
as long as the calyx, not, or very faintly, striate. Female spadiz straight, erect, 
rigid, more or less persistently rusty-furfuraceous in every part; the flowering 
panicle borne on a long peduncular part, rather loosely thyrsoid, acuminate, 
on the average 30-40 em. long and with 6-7, or at times fewer, speedily decrescent 
partial inflorescences; the main axis slightly sinuous, the internodes irregularly 
angular, somewhat swollen at the junctures and with a conspicuous axillary callus; 
peduncular part of the spadix strongly flattened and acutely 2-edged, 30-50 cm. 
long, 6-8 mm. broad at the base, 3-14 mm. at upper end; the edges only armed 
at short intervals with not very strong, often slender, rather short (10-12 mm, long 
at most) horizontal, solitary, fascicled, and digitate, unequal, divergent spines ; smooth 
on the surfaces or, at times, more or less prickly; primary spathes deciduous ; partial 
inflorescences erecto-patent or inserted at an angle of about 45°; the lowest 
and largest 15-18 em. long, with 4-5 erecto-patent spikelets on each side; the 
others speedily smaller, and that of the apex reduced to only one scantily flowered 
spikelet; secondary spathes very small, annular-amplectent, produced at one side 
into a triangular, acuminate membranous point; spikelets kept spread by a 
conspicuous axillary callus, the lower the largest, 5-7 cm. long, with -6 
distichous flowers on each side, the others are gradually smaller, their axes 
slightly angular, zig-zag sinuous; the spathels have a very short and broad 
triangular acuminate point; the involucrophorum more or less distinctly pedicelliform, 
obeonieal, flattened on the axial side, 3-5 mm. long, with a short, unilaterally 
evolute, infundibular, almost obtuse limb; involucre very shallowly cupular or pateri- 
form with a rounded limb, often more evolute on the side of the areola of the 
neuter flower; the areola itself is concave, niche-like, sharply bordered, suborbicular 
or more or less depressed. Female flowers about 6 mm, long; the calyx cupular, very 
obsoletely 3-toothed, not striately veined, of a thickish texture; the corolla twice as 
long as the calyx; its segments elongate, triangular, rather acute, uot or obsoletely 
veined externally, Fruiting perianth almost explanate with a callous base. Fruit 
spherical, 15-17 mm, in diameter, shortly beaked; scales in 15 longitudinal series, 
slightly grooved along the centre, of a dull hazelenut colour with a darker intra- 
marginal line, the margins very finely ciliate-fringed, the point obtuse, Seed globular, 
