ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



845 



at the apex and induplicate, and with concave petioles. Pritchardias 

 require light soil, composed chiefly of peat and sand, with a small 

 portion of loam; and a good supply of water is necessary through 

 the growing period. Increased by seeds, which require a strong 

 heat to germinate. P. macrocarpa is a species producing large 

 leaves, divided into numerous linear-lanceolate segments ; it is 

 allied to P. Martii, and is a highly ornamental robust Palm, 

 well worth growing. P. Martii forms a handsome stove Palm, but 

 s.eems to be the most delicate of the genus as far as culture is 

 concerned ; it produces flabelliform and plaited leaves of a deep 



Fig. 565. — Pritchardia Vuylstekiana. 



green ; the petioles are quite smooth and unarmed, and are partly 

 enclosed at the base in brown fibres ; the seeds are extremely small 

 compared with P. pacifica, to which it has a great similarity. 

 P. pacifica, an unarmed species, is rather robust and easily 

 grown compared with the others ; it is also the most decorative 

 plant for the stove ; the petioles are quite distinct, and are 

 covered with a white scaly tomentum, partly enclosed at the 

 base in brown fibres, and bearing large, fiabellate, bright green 

 leaves. P. Vuylstekiana is another decorative species of rather 



