NoTH ON SOME BRANCHING PALMS. 253 
speak, all. in the same plane. There is no thickening of the 
original stem at the point of junction, The branches themselves are 
considerably attenuated just at this point, but almost immediately 
assume a vertical direction, and then all attainthe thickness of the 
main stem. They are also all of about equal height, having grown 
some 12 feet from the point of junction to the base of the crown of 
foliage. Hach branch bears flowers and fruit, A sketch of this 
tree had been made by Miss Starling, from a photograph by Capt. 
Shopland, for the Society’s Journal. 
The other specimen ‘stands about 50 yards from the com- 
pound wall on the west of the Pedder Road, but being on rather 
elevated ground is plainly visible from the road. The stem, which 
in this instance also shows signs of having been tapped for toddy, 
has bifurcated at a height of about 12 feet from the ground. The 
southernmost of the two branches seems to form rather more of a 
right angle with the original stem at the point of junction than do 
any of the four branches in the other specimen. Excepting this, 
and the numberof their branches, the two’trees seem to grow in 
much the same manner. 
I have also heard of an instance of a bifurcating cocoanut palm 
(Cocos nuctfera) in the Mahim woods, but have not seen it. I have 
also heard of, but not seen, another instanceofa bifurcating wild 
date (Phenix sylvestris) in the jungle between Mount Nepean Road 
and the Malabar Hill Reservoir. 
Brandis, at the page already cited, in the Forest Flora, speaking 
of the edible date (Phenia dactylifera) says the branching stems are 
occasionally foundin the Panjab, and that many palms have occasion- 
ally bifurcating stems and sometimes developa large number of side 
branches. But the above are the only specific instances of abnormal 
branching in the simple stemmed species that I have been able 
to find or hear of. From them it would appear that the abnormal 
branching is always, if not strictly dichotomous, yet in multiples of 
two.* It would also appear that the branches, whatever their number, 
spring from the original stem at the same height. Next it would 
appear that they do not radiate in different directions around on 
the axis of the original stem. Lastly, it would appear from their 
being of the same length and girth that they are of equal age. 
* An instance mentioned at p. 79 of An Indian Olio by General Burton of a seven- 
branching Palmyra, shows the ramifications are not always dichotomous. At the 
reading of the paper Mr. Kabraji mentioned another instance of a seven-branching 
cocoanut palm at Jabalpur near Naogari. 
35 
