143 BOTANY OP CONGO. 



probably of Madagascar, and both are remarkable in having 

 the caudex dichotomous, or repeatedly divided. 



As the Palm on the banks of the Congo was seen in 

 fruit only, it is not difficult to account for Professor Smith's 

 referring it rather to Hyphsene than to Corypha ; Gsertner 

 having described the embryo of the latter as at the base of 

 the fruit, probably, however, from having inverted it, as he 

 appears to have done in Elseis. It is at least certain that 

 in Corypha Taliera} of the continent of India, which is 

 very nearly allied to C. umbraculifera, the embryo is situ- 

 ated at the apex, as in Hyphsene. 



The journal also notices a species of Raphia, which is 

 probably BapJda vinifera of M. de Beauvois/ the Sagus 

 Palma-pinus of Gsertner. 



The collection contains fronds similar to those of Calamus 

 secundijlorus of M. de Beauvois/ which was also found at 

 Sierra Leone by Professor Afzelius ; and a male spadix very 

 nearly resembling that of Elate sylvestris of India. 



The Cocoa Nut was not observed in any part of the 

 course of the river. 



Only five species of Palms appear therefore to have been 

 seen on the banks of the Congo- On the whole continent 

 of Africa thirteen species, including those from Congo, 

 have been found ; which belong to genera either confined 

 to this continent and its islands, or existing also in India, 

 but none of which have yet been observed in America, 

 imless perhaps Eteis, if Alfonsia oleifera of Humboldt 

 should prove to be a distinct species of that genus. 



CYPERACE^i. In the collection there arc thirty-two 

 species belonging to this order, which forms therefore about 

 one eighteenth of the Phsenogamous plants. This is very 

 different from what has been considered its equinoctial 

 proportion, but is intermediate to that of the northern part 

 of New Holland, where, from my own materials, it seems 

 to be as 1 : 14 ; and of India, in which according to Dr. 

 Roxburgh's Elora it is about 1 : 25. 



' Roxh. Coromand. 3, tahh. 255 et 256. 



2 More d'Oware I, p. 75, tahb. 44, 45, et 46. 



» Op citat. :\,p. 15, iabb. 9, ei 10. 



