THE FALMS OF BRITISR INDIA AND CEYLON. 925' 



Fruit a drupe, containing 3 or, by abortion, 1-2 pyrenes; 

 mesocarp succulent ; pyrenes convex and sculptured externally ;. 

 seed with a testa which adheres completely to the endocT.rp ;. 

 albumen homogeneous; embryo apical. 



Species 3. 



Distribution. — Mascarene Islands ; generally introduced in 

 Indian gardens. 



Cultivation in Europe. — The species of Latania are very hand- 

 some stove plants. They grow well in a compost of" two parts of 

 rich loam and one of peat, to which \\\q,\ be added a small quantity 

 of sand. Perfect drainage is required. Propogation is effected by 

 seeds. These are sown in a compost similar to that just mentioned, 

 and placed in a moist, gentle heat. 



LATANIA COMMEESONII, Gmel. Syst. II. 1035; Bory de St. Vine. 

 Voy. dans les isles de I'Afrique ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III. 228, t. 148.. 

 fig. 4. t. 154, 161, fig. 2, t. W; Baker Fl. Maurit. and Seych. 381.— i. 



lilaycecoma , Oomm. Mss. et Palmarium Vol. t. 26, 27, 28 ; Aub. Pet 



Thouars Melanges de Bot., Observat. sur les Plant, des tsles d'Afr., ol. — L. 

 rubra Jacq. Frag. bot. 13, n. 49, t. 8 : Willd. Spec. Plant, iv. 2. p. 878, n. 

 1 ; Spreng. Syst. Veg. ii. 623, n. 1. — Cleoplwra loiitaroides, Gaertn. Fruct. 

 —II. 185, t. 120, fig. 1. 



Names. — Commerson"s Latania .• Latanier ; Latanier rauge ;. 

 Latanier de Tisle de Bourbon, 



Description. — Palm 40 feet high. Petiole 4-G feet long, slightly 

 tomentose, the margins smooth, spiny in young plants ; blades 

 5-5i feet long, dark green above, paler beneath ; segments 

 lanceolate, acuminate, 2 feet long, 3^-3^ inches broad, their margins 

 entire, spiny in young plants ; veins and margins tinged with red. 

 Male spadix 3-G feet long, with 9-16 branches ; spikes 7-10 inches 

 long, ^-^ inch broad, arising in clusters of 4-20 from the end of 

 the branch within the mouth of the spathe. Perianth i inch long ;. 

 margin of segments fringed ,■ stamens 28-32 ; pistillode pyra- 

 midal-trigonous. Female spadix 3-6 feet long, with 8 or more 

 branches, each bearing 3 spikes ; free portion of bracts deltoid. 

 Fruit a drupe, globose, H-l| inch in diameter; pyrenes obovoid.. 

 Ij^-H inch long, marked with numerous ridges which pass from. 



