ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS 817 



curious slender species, with a stem not much larger than a 

 large wheat-straw ; the petioles vary from 6in. to 9m. in length, 

 sheath at the base, and are armed with long, slender, black 

 spines ; the leaves are pinnate ; the pinnae vary in length from 

 6in. to 8in., are narrow, and of a deep green colour. C. asper- 

 rimus is a noble species, reaching a considerable size ; it throws 

 up a quantity of suckers, forming a handsome mass, which 

 may also be utilised for propagation. The leaves vary in length 

 from 3ft. to 9ft., and are pinnate ; the pinnae, which vary from 

 1 ft. to 2ft. long, are of a light green colour, and are provided 

 on their upper side with two rows of spines; the petioles 

 also are clothed with long black spines. C. ciliaris (Fig. 548) is one 

 of the small-growing kinds, and the plume-like habit of the foliage 

 renders it a handsome subject for table decoration. It produces 

 an erect and slender stem, and bright green leaves covered 

 with a quantity of soft hairs ; the petioles are sheathing at the 

 base. C. flagellum is a very distinct species, climbing to a great 

 height ; the stem is slender ; the leaves are from 6ft. to 9ft. 

 in length, and are pinnate ; the pinna? are pendent, vary in 

 length from 8in. to i2in., and are of a dark green colour, their 

 surface being provided with two rows of white hair-like spines; 

 the petioles are sheathing, and armed with a great number of 

 white spines, rather swollen at their base. C. Rotang is a 

 handsome species in its young state, but reaches in its native 

 country a height of several hundred feet, and is a fast climber ; 

 the stem is slender, with pinnate leaves varying from 3ft. to 

 "4ft. in length; the pinnae also vary in length- from 6in. to 12m., 

 are deep green in colour, and are provided on their upper sur- 

 face with two rows of hair-like spines ; the petioles as well as 

 the stem are armed with stout reversed spines. C. tenuis 

 (C. Royleanus), a very elegant species, produces pinnate and 

 arching leaves, bearing a quantity of narrow dark green pinnae, 

 which, like the sheathing petioles, are armed with a small 

 number of spines. C. viminalis is a distinct species, throwing 

 up in its young state its whip-like, spiny spikes of flowers ; it 

 produces a slender stem, with sheathing petioles, which are 

 armed with long flat white spines ; the leaves vary in length 

 from ift. to 2ft, and furnish a prodigious number of bright 

 green pinnae, which often reach 6in. long, and are rather 

 narrow. 



Calyptrogyne. — A handsome but small genus, closely allied 

 to Geonoma. It comprises about half-a-dozen species, requiring 

 stove treatment. For culture see " Geonoma." C. Ghiesbreghtiana 

 {Geonoma Ghiesbreghtiana, G. magnifica, and G. Verschaffeltii) is 

 a rather dwarf-growing species, without any noticeable stem ; its 

 pinnate leaves vary from 2ft. to 5ft. in length; the pinnse are 

 mostly opposite, seldom alternate, having an interval between 

 them, and are of a bright green on the upper surface and 



3 



