680 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



those of Phoenix sylvestris ; leaflets in fasicles, quadrifarious, 

 strongly con duplicate. Spathe fringed with brown wool on the 

 keel. Fruiting peduncle 2 feet long. Kipe fruit brown. — Materials 

 are wanting for a complete diagnosis. 



Habitat. — On Parasnath in Behar ; Deccan ; gregarious on the 

 top of trap hills near Bhorkas ; Western Ghats : Nandgaon. 



Flowers in February. 



Uses. — Woodrow says that in the country near Bhorkas, where 

 it is locally abundant, it is used largely for the manufacture of 

 date-matting. 



* * Introduced Species. 



PHCENIX DACTYLIFERA, L. Hort. Cliff., 482 ; Spec. PI. ed. Willd., 

 IV. 730.— P. excelsior, Cavan. Icon, et Descr. PI. II. 13. 



Names. — The Edible Date ; Khajur, Khaji (Hind.) ; Khajur 

 (Beng.) ; Kasser (Bhot.) ; Khajur, Khaji (Panj.) ; Mach 

 (N. Baluch.) ; Kajura (Pushtu) ; Karmah (Turki.) ; Pind Ohirdi, 

 Kurma, Tar, Khaji (Sind) ; Khajur (Bomb.) ; Kharjur (Mar.); 

 Khajur, Karek (Guz.) ; Perich-chankay (Tarn.) ; Kharjurapu, 

 Perita, Mudda Kharjurapu (Tel.) ; Kharjura (Kan.) ; Swonpalwon 

 (Burm.) ; Indi (Sing.) ; Pindakharjura (Sans.). 



Description. — A tall tree, attaining 100-120 feet; trunk 

 covered with the persistent bases of petioles ; the foot often sur- 

 rounded by a dense mass of root suckers which is never the case 

 in P. sylvestris. Leaves grey, longer than those of P. sylvestris; 

 pinnae 8-16 inches long, regularly distichous, forming a very acute 

 angle with the petiole, often approximate in twos or threes on the 

 same side of the petiole ; petiole grey, laterally compressed, almost 

 flat. Male panicles white, compact, 6-9 inches long, on a short 

 peduncle, flowers £-^ inch long, sweet scented ; sheaths outside 

 with rusty down. Peduncles of female inflorescence ^-^ inch 

 broad, sometimes broader below, spikes 12-24 inches long. Fruit 

 oblong, 1-3 inches long, generally reddish or yellowish-brown 

 when ripe, pulp fleshy sweet ; numerous varieties are cultivated, 

 differing in colour, shape, and taste of the fruit. Seed cylindric, 



