Beccari and Rock — Pritchardia. g^ 



the one from the other, but Pr. Lotvreyana is the larger plant of the two, and is 

 quite distinct from Pr. Gaudichaudii in its larger, ovate, conically pointed fruit, 

 and in the different aspect of the lower surface of the leaf-blade, which is dotted 

 with a quite different form of lepidia. 



Pritchardia var. turbinata Rock v. n. 



(Plates X, B; XXII, /) v. n. 



Description. — A palm of the habit of Pritchardia Gaudichaudii but some- 

 what larger and thus intermediate between the former and Pritchardia Lozvreyana 

 Rock. Trunk 1.5 m. or slightly more. Leaf blade thick coriaceous, 88 cm. long 

 from ligule to apex, the segments divided about 30 cm. into stiff non-drooping 

 acuminate points, which are slightly falcate as in the species ; dark green above and 

 paler beneath and dotted with oblong-elliptical yellow non-fringed lepidia; petiole 

 about 80 cm. long. Spadix branching into two separate panicles, long drooping 

 but shorter than in Pr. Lozvreyana Rock. Plozvers as in the species, the calyx 

 less conspicuously striate. Fruit ovoid, acute at both ends, black when mature, 

 4.5-5 cm. long including the fruiting perianth, nearly 3 cm. in diameter; exocarp 

 very thin; mesocarp slightly grumous and permeated by less numerous branched 

 fibers ; endocarp pale yellow, silky glossy, with numerous impressed branching 

 veins and reticulation; whole pericarp 2.5 mm. thick. Seed subglobose, but 

 pointed at the apex, broader than high, 22 mm. in diameter; embryo situated 

 immediately above or at the upper margin of the hilum. 



Habitat. — Molokai on the Waialeia ridge in company with Pritchardia 

 Gaudichaudii, Freycinetia arborea Gaud., Sadleria, etc. 



Observations. — This variety differs from the species in its smaller stature, 

 which approaches that of Pr. Gaudichaudii, but mainly in the fruits which are 

 smaller and evenly pointed at both ends, being thickest at the middle; the panicles 

 are shorter than in the species and also smaller. The whole pericarp is very thin, 

 only about 2 mm. instead of 4-6 mm. as is the case in Pr. Lozvreyana. It might 

 be regarded as a distinct species, but fruits of Pritchardia vary considerably; 

 possibly intermediate between Pritchardia Gaudichaudii and Pritchardia Lozv- 

 reyana. Hybridisation very likely occurs in Pritchardia through anemophily. The 

 locality in which the two mentioned species and variety grow is exposed to the 

 trade winds which sometimes assume the velocity of a gale. The variety in ques- 

 tion, of which there were two or three plants, grew in a clump of Pritchardia 

 Gaudichaudii. Pritchardia Lowreyana grew several hundred yards inland on the 

 flats, but in line with the prevailing wind. Entomophily must, however, also be 

 considered, since the flowers are usually visited on sunny days by native wasps 

 and bees. The type is No. 17344 in the College of Hawaii Herbarium. 



