3.72 JOUJtNAL, BOMBAY NATVmAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



identical with those now recognized in Europe as representing 

 that species. 



Geemination. — At the time of germination the cotjrledonal 

 petiole becomes slightl}' longer and then plumule and radicle deve- 

 lop at the same time. At the base of the primary root there arise; 

 s.ome thin lateral roots and after some time it is covered with 

 rootlets. The radicle remains for a long time the principal root/ 

 but after the development of several leaves, there arises a new 

 lateral root which is much thicker than the primary root and 

 destined to take its place in the course of time. 



The first vegetative leaf is a mere sheath, surrounded by the 

 ligtile of the catyledpnal sheath. ■ 



Insect Enemy. — According to Parish the Desert Palm is not) 

 known to be infested by any, parasitic fungus, or to be subject to 

 any bacterial infection. " Its sole enemy", he says, "is the larva 

 of a Bostrychide beetle, Dinapate Wrightii, Horn, the only species 

 of the genus. The female oviposits at the base of the living leaves,, 

 whence the larva bores downward through the trunk, its continually, 

 enlarging galleries becoming at length 18 mm. in diameter. ■ 

 These are tightly packed^ for the most part, with rejected gnawings. 

 The larval life of the insect is three or four years, perhaps .even 

 longer. The mature beetle has a length of fully 5 cm. and is. the, 

 heaviest North American coleopter. 



"The number of contemporaneous larvge that might inhabit a sin- 

 gle trunk has been estimated as high as 200 or 300 ; but Mr. W. G. 

 Wright, who discovered the beetle, and who has assiduously 

 investigated its habits, is of opinion that it would probably not ; 

 exceed 50. But even such a horde of huge and voraceous grubs, 

 in their comparatively long life, might riddle a whole trunk with , 

 their galleries. They seem not to work any great destruction to 

 the groves, however ; in fact, the only evidences of their presence 

 to the ordinary observer are the exit holes in dead trunks." 



WASHINGTONIA GRACILIS, Parish in Bot. Gaz., vol. 44 (1907), 420 

 Washingtonia robusta, Hort. (in California, not of Wendland), 

 WasJiingtonia robusta var gracilis^ Parish ex- Webbia II, 197. 



