Ptychoraphh) CX. PALJLE 647 



Ptychoraphis augusta, Becc. Syn. Areca augusta, Kurz in ■• Journ. of Botany." 

 1875, tab. 170. Xicobars, frequent. A tall slender palm, stem 30- 100 ft. high, 1ft. 

 diam. L. y-1'2 ft., leaflets narrow-linear, 2-3 ft. long, the lowest pair much longer. 

 Spadix deflexed, bearing numerous long spikes, £ fl. at the ends, supported by broad 

 bracts. Fr. 1 in. long, scarlet. 



3. BENTINCKIA, Berry: Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 418. 



Tall unarmed slender palms, stem annulate, 1. pinnate, pet. short, base 

 amplexicaul, leaflets linear, not confluent, midrib distinct. Spadix androgy- 

 nous, on the stem below the 1., much branched, the spikes bearing in their 

 upper portion J 1 fl., while the lower portion is occupied by groups of one $ 

 with one or several <$ fl., spathes numerous. All fl. are sunk in cavities ol 

 the spike and supported by several bracts. Fr. exserted, oblique, trace of 

 stigma near the base. Seed spherical, grooved, pendulous, embryo basal, 

 endosperm uniform. Species 2. 



1. B. Coddapanna, Berry. Vern. Yarn Kamdcu (Rock Areca), Mai. South Tra van- 

 core, 2,500-6,000 ft., on precipitous cliffs, local, but very common within its restricted 

 areas. Stem annulate, 20-30 ft. high, 6 in. diam. L. 3-5 ft., leaflets 30-40 pair, 

 24-30 by 1-1A in. Spathe enclosing the young inflorescence, 12 by 2 iu., pale brown, 

 stands out horizontally from the stem. Spadix, after emerging from the sheathing 

 spathe, much ramified, bears numerous short spikes, 9-15 by J in., the entire inflor- 

 escence red, 2 ft. long and 3 ft. broad, c! fl. J, ? J in. diam. Fr. bright chocolate 

 coloured when ripe, A-jj in. diam. 



2. B. nicobarica, Becc. — Syn. Orania nicobarica, Kurz in Journ. Bot. xiii. (1875) t. 

 171. Komorta, Nicobars. Common, associated with Areca Catechu, Pinanga Manii 

 and Plychoraphis augusta. Stem 50-60 ft. high, 9 in. diam. L. 5-8 ft., leaflets 6-24 in. 

 long. Inflorescence 1A-2 ft. Fr. 1 in. long, scarlet. 



4. PINANGA, Blume; Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 406. 

 Similar to Areca, but spathe usually one, spadix sometimes simple, fl. 

 along the spike as a rule in clusters of 3, one $ between 2 £ fl., $> fl. smaller 

 than <J. Stamens more thauli. Fr. ellipsoid, pointed at the ends. Species "24, 

 India and Malaya. 



A. Fruits in 3-6 rows on the spikes. 



1. P. gracilis, HI.: Syn. Areca uracil!.*, Urift'. Palms t. 232 A. C. Vern. Ram c/tia, 

 Beng. ; Tavokun, Burin. -Sikkim, subhimalayan tract and valleys up to 2,000 ft., 

 common. Assam. Khasi hills. Cachar. I 'hittagong. Arakan Yoma. Pegu. Mar- 

 taban, Tenasserim, in damp evergreen forest, ascending to 3,500 ft. A graceful palm, 

 stems usually in tufts of 4-X, 6-20 ft. high, 1—1 J in. diam. L. 3—1 ft. long, the upper 

 leaflets confluent. Fruiting spadix stout. 6-12 in. long, pendulous, of ten simple, fruits 

 in 3 rows, A-j in. long, scarlet or orange. 2. P. Grifflthii, Becc. Khasi hills. Fr. in 

 1 rows on the spike. 3. P. hexasticha, Scheff. Southern end of the Pegu Yoma. 

 Stem 25-80 fi. high, 1-5 in. diam. Spadix simple, reflexed, fl. spirally arranged in 

 4-6 rows, rachis thick fleshy. 



B. Fruits in "2 rows on the spikes. 



I. P. Dick8onii, Blume. Syn. Area ZHeksonii, Etoxb. Western Ghats in evergreen 

 fcnv>i up in :i.iKH) fi., from .Ninth Kauara southwards. Slender, soboliferous, often 

 gregarious, stem smooth, 16-26 ft. high, 1 :i in, diam. Leaflets confluent, s j > i k . ■ - 

 distichous on a short stout spadix, enclosed in bud by a thick rigid compressed 

 spathe. J sepals nearly as long as petals, stamens 20-80. Fr. J— J in. long. 5. 

 p. Hookeriana, Becc. Kha^i hills. Stem slender, 8-4 ft. high, internodes clavate, 

 scurfy while young, as also petioles and leaflets. Leaflets thin, opposite, 12 by 1 in., 

 obliquely acuminate, the uppermost pair connate at base, spikes distichous, 4-8 in. 



long mi a slmrt spadix Fr. A in. Imig, edible. 



6. P. Kuhlli, Blume. Syn. P. coitata, HI.: Kurz F. Fl. ii. 688. Andaman*.— 

 Sumatra, Java. Stems tufted slender, 20-80 ft, lj 2 in. diam. L. 8 I ft . long, Spikes 

 numerous, 8 15 in., on a simit spadix 8 l 11 in., fr. A in. long 7. p. Manii, Becc, 



Andaman* and Nicobars. Stem Solitary, 60 ft high, 5) in. diam. I.. 15-20 fl.. leaflet, 



8ft. bj Bin., leaf sheaths 4ft long, clasping the stem, spikes numerous, Blender 

 pendulous. Pr. broadly ovoid. 8, P hymenospatha, Ilook, f. Tenasserim. Stem slender 

 j in. diam., petiole and leaf-rachis scurfy. I.. 12 L5 in. long, leaflets numerous, alternate, 

 in ii confluent, 8 I by 14 In., finely acuminate, slender n. obscure, no stunt n. besides 

 the prominent midrib. Spike simple, stamens 9, spathe membranous, 1A in. loi 



