PALMS. 371 
to three feet in circumference. When the tree gets old, 
numerous aerial roots, all covered with spines, begin to 
appear, forcibly reminding one of the Jriartea exorrhiza 
in tropical America. The leaves are from ten to twelve 
feet long, pinnatifid, and the segments four feet long 
and two inches broad. Before expanding they are per- 
fectly erect, looking like a pole inserted into the heart 
of the foliage ; their petiole and midrib and veins are 
in that stage densely covered with a very short brown 
tomentum, which more or less disappears as the foliage 
advances in age. The flowers appear below the crown 
of the leaves, growing out of the old wood; they are 
enveloped in thick coriaceous boat-shaped spathes, which, 
unlike those of the Sakiki (Pritchardia pacifica, Seem. et 
Wendl.), are not subject to rapid decay. The spadix, on 
which the minute moneecious green flowers are inserted, 
is much branched, and the branches are “ yarring,” 
forming large bunches, which, when loaded with ripe 
fruit, are rather weighty. As many as eight of these 
bunches are often seen on a tree at one time in various 
stages of development. The fruit is ovate, acuminate, 
and about the size of a walnut. At first green, it gra- 
dually changes into bright orange, and ultimately merges 
into red at the base. The kernel has a slight astrin- 
gent taste, and is eaten by the natives, especially by the 
youngsters. The wood is used for spars. Fine specimens 
of the tree, brought by Mr. Moore from New Caledonia, 
and by me from Fiji, are cultivated at the Sydney Bo- 
tanic Garden. 
The Niu Niu, or as it is more commonly termed, Cagi- 
cake (Ptychosperma filiferum, Wendl.), is found in the 
2B2 
