682 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIV. 



placenta axile. Fruiting spadix consisting of an aggregate of abont 

 6 or more compressed and united berry-like fruits (syncarpium) ; 

 each fruit commonlj^ with 4-6 seeds in as many loculi, pericarp with 

 hard-woody protruberances. Albumen uniform, very hard, slightly 

 excavated. 



Species at least 3, probably more. — Tropical America, between 

 9" N. L. and 8° S. L., 70—79° W. Long. 



PRYTELEPRAS MaCROCARPA, R. &. P., Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. 

 et Chil. 301; Humb. Kth. Nov. Gen. I, 83; Kth. Enum. Ill, 109; 

 Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. Ill, 806 ; Hook. Journ. of Bot. and Kew Misc. I. 

 204 ; Seem. Bot. Herald, 208, t. 45, 46, 47, ejusdem Bonpl. HI. 270, t. 182 ; 

 Bot. Mag. 4913, 4914 Elephantusia macrocarpa, Willd. Spec. IV., 1156. 



Names of the Tree. 



EnglisJi: Large-fruited Ivory Plant, Ivorj^Palm, Ivory nut Palm, 



Vegetable ivorj^ Plant, negro's head Palm. 

 German : Elfenbeinpalme. Taguabaum. 

 Dutch : Ivoornoot, ivoorpalm. 

 Spanish : Palma de marfil. 

 Indians of the Magdaiena : Tagna. 

 Indians of the coast of Da-rien : Anta. 

 Peru : Pullipunta, Homero. 



Names of the Fruit. 



English : Negro's head. 

 German : Negerkopf. 



Names of the Kernels. 



English : Ivory nuts, palm ivorj^, vegetable ivory. 



French : Ivoire vegetal, noix de corozo. 



German : Corozanuss, Oorusconuss, Elfenbeinnuss, Steinnuss, 

 Taguanuss, vegetabilisches Elfenbein. 



Dutch : Ivornooten, palmivoor, plantenivoor. 



Description. — ^Stem always pulled down, partly by its own 

 weight, partly by its serial roots, thus forming a creeping 

 caudex, frequently 20 feet long, but seldom higher than 6 

 feet. Leaves 12-20 in number, 18-20 feet long, segments 

 towards the base of the leaf alternate, towards the apex op- 

 posite, 3 feet long, 2 inches broad, about 160 in number. Seem 

 to be dioecious, the males being more robust, more erect and 

 higher, than the females. The inflorescence of both emits a most 

 penetrating almond-like smell. Male spadix simple, fleshy, 

 cylindrical, which has 3-4 spathes, the flowers of which are densely 

 crowded together and sessile. - Each flower furnished with a small 

 bract. Sepals 3. Stamens numerous ; filaments filiform ; anthers 



