Areca.] CXLII. PALM^. 1673. 



scurfy scales, and marked with 2 green lines down the centre ; the upper surface 

 deep-green, smooth, the midrib forming a sharp prominent ridge along the centre 

 of the pinna and ranning out on the lower side an inch or so below the point. 

 Inflorescence from amongst the bases of the leaves. Panicle including short 

 peduncle about 2|ft. long, broad, densely branched, the ultimate brancblets 

 drooping, flexuose spikes. Bracts 3 or 4, the uppermost one yellowish-white, 2ft. 

 long and about 6 or 7in. broad, lanceolate, outer side tomentose, inner glabrous. 

 Flowers numerous, stessile or nearly so. Sepals 3, thin, valvate, about 1 line* 

 long, from a broad base tapering to a Subulate point. Petals white, about as long 

 again as the sepals, valvate, thick, fleshy, obtuse, bearing upon the inner face a 

 prominent triangular gland or appendage. Stamens 6, the filaments very short, 

 not so long as the rather large deeply sagittate anthers. Stigmas 3, short, 

 spreading. Ovary 3-celled, maturing but 1 seed, . the other 2 abortive. Fruit 

 oval, nearly |in. long, but not seen ripe. 



Hab.: Bellenden-Ker, at an altitude of about 4,000tt., Bellenden-Ker Expedition, 1889. 

 This may prove when better liuown a spebies of Archontophccni.r. 



2. HYDRIASTELE, H. V/endl. and Drude. 



(From hydria, a water vessel or fountain, and stele, a column ; alluding to the 

 tall stems growing near springs.) 



Spadices infrafoliar, branched., Flowers monoecious, spirally disposed, 3-nate 

 the centre one female. Male flowers compressed. Sepals minute, acute not 

 imbricate. Petals ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, valvate. Stamens 6, filaments 

 short subulate, anthers linear, erect, basifixed.. Female flowers much smaller 

 than the males, subglobose, the perianth enlarging after flowering. Sepals 

 reniform, imbricate. Petals a little longer; orbicular, convolute-imbricate. 

 Staminodia obsolete. Ovary globose or ovoid, 1-celled ; stigmas 3, minute, 

 sessile, open, depressed, ovule pendulous from above the middle of the cell. 

 Fruit small ellipsoid, smooth or ribbed terminated by the stigmas ; pericarp 

 fibrous. Unarmed palms the stem tall and ringed. Leaves pinnatisect, 

 segments alternate, linear split or prsemorse at the apex. Spadices broadly 

 branching from the base, the branches slender, pendulous. Spathe 2, 

 compressed deciduous. Flowers small the female ones minute. Fruit crimson. 



Species few endemic. 

 Apex of leaf with confluent segments. 



Fruit ovoid or globose, 4 lines diameter 1. H. Wendlandiana. 



Fruit ovoid, apiculate, 3J lines long 2. H. Douglasiana. 



Apex of leaf with free segments S. JS. costata. 



1. H. "Wendlandiana (after Herm. Wendland), Wendl. and Dnide in 

 Linneea xxxix. 209. A tall palm. Leaves many feet long, the segments 

 numerous, unequal, the longest l|^ft. long, the upper ones confluent at the base, 

 all or mostly jagged or toothed at the apex. Panicle of numerous slender 

 pendulous spikes of about 1ft., the common peduncle very short broad and thick, 

 marked with the scars of the spatha and of 2 outer bracts, the primary branches 

 very short and thick, the rhachis of the spikes slender, the notches very little 

 immersed. Spatha and male flowers unknown. Female perianth under the 

 fruit about 2 lines diameter, the segments all very broad, the inner twice as long 

 as the outer ones. Fruit ovoid or globular, when dry about 4 lines diameter and 

 longitudinally striate with prominent ribs, succulent when fresh with a thin 

 endoearp. Seed erect, with an oblong oblique basal hilum, the testa free from, 

 the endoearp, the albumen not ruminale. — Kentia Wendlandiana, F. v. M. Benth.. 

 FI. Austr. vii. 138. 



Hab,: Cape York, W. Hill; Cape Sidmouth, Curdie. 



It is very probable that this species has only been met with at the Liverpool Biver, and that 

 the specimens collected by Hill and Curdie, belonged to one or other of the following species 

 for Bentham in Fl. Austr. expresses a doubt as to their belonging to the Arnhem's Laud species. 



