Beccari and Rock — Pritchardia. 35 



5. PRITCHARDIA INSIGNIS Becc. in Webbia, IV (1913) 219, f. 13. 



Description. — Apparently one of the largest. Leaf-blade 1.30 m. long from 

 the ligula to the apex (in one specimen), entire in its central part to above the 

 middle, and parted into about 60 segments; it is of a rather rigid, thickish 

 structure, sub7glaucescent and slightly pulverulent-waxy, and devoid of lepidia on 

 the lower surface, the transverse veinlets are almost obsolete, being immersed into 

 the parenchyma; rachis and lower main costae at first tomentose, but finally 

 almost glabrous. Segments rather stift", and apparently with not drooping apices, 

 parted to the extent of 15-25 cm. into two very gradually finely acuminate points; 

 the central segments 5-5.5 cm. broad at their disjunction places. Petiole longer 

 than the blade, 4.5 cm. broad at apex, c^uite glabrous on both faces, slight pulveru- 

 lent-waxy above; ligula short, crescent-like. Spadices apparently shorter than 

 the petioles, rigid, 60 cm. long (in one specimen); spatl^es thinly chartaceous, 

 more or less f ugaceously covered with a silvery wool, finally glabrous ; the panicle 

 is about 20 cm. long, with the lower branches 2-4-parted, simply branched above; 

 floriferous branchlets very rigid, erect-spreading, glabrous, have a polished, 

 and not wrinkled surface, even when dry, are thickish, slightly sinuous, 

 subterete, 8-12 cm. long, 4-5 mm. through at the base, narrowed towards the 

 end, covered all around, spirally and rather closely with flowers; the latter seated 

 on orbicular pulvinuli, each of which is furnished with a 3-5 mm. long capillary 

 bracteole. Flozvers of a very hard structure, when fully developed yet still un- 

 opened, lo-ii mm. long, 4 mm. through at the base, and attenuate above; calyx 

 cyathiform-cylindraceous with a flat base, 5 mm. high, relatively thinly coriaceous, 

 and with a somewhat thickened base, smooth outside (not veined), very faintly 

 3-toothed; corolla about twice as long as the calyx, obsoletely 3-gonous and 

 rather acute at apex, the segments elongate-triangular, not, or only obsoletely 

 veined outside; staminal ring shortly protruding beyond the calyx; the filaments 

 outwardly curved soon after the anthesis; anthers linear-sagittate. Ovary ovoid, 

 sculptured above, gradually narrowed into a rather short, thickish, trigonous, 

 sulcate style; stigma punctiform. Fruit spherical, 14-16 mm. in diameter, with 

 the rather conspicuous remains of the sterile carpels, and style exactly apical. 

 Whole pericarp 2 mm. thick; mesocarp grumous. Seed 10-12 mm. in diameter. 

 Fruiting perianth pedicelliform, subcampanulate, slightly broader than high, the 

 remains of the filaments recurved. 



Habitat. — The specimens from which the above description was drawn up 

 were derived from a plant cultivated in the Demerara Botanic Garden at George- 

 town in British Guiana and which certainly was of Polynesian, or possibly even 

 of Hawaiian origin, (n". 7970 and 8800 in the British Guiana Herbarium.) 



Observations. — Pr. insignis comes near to Pr. Hillcbrandi, which it greatly 

 resembles in the leaves, which are powdery-waxy and devoid of lepidia on the 

 lower surface, but is distinguishable by its glabrous petioles, by the panicle being 

 less branched, with thicker floriferous polished, terete branchlets, and by its smaller 

 fruits. (N. B. — The fruits represented in Webbia IV, 220 f. 13 are one-tenth 

 smaller than natural size.) 



A specimen, in flower, of this Pritchardia. n". 7970 in the Berlin Herbarium, 

 is accompanied by the following note: "Length of petiole 7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m.), 

 width of leaf 3 ft. 9 in. (1.34 m). Spadix i ft. 6 in. (45.6 cm.), erect." 



