1684 CXLII. PALM^. [Lidstona. 



the lower half with strong, sliort,- curved, or straight prickles, the upper end of 

 the sheath decurrent on the face of the petiole, on both sides within the margin 

 forming long, light-brown, woven fibres. Leaf-expansion about 3|ft. long, and^;^ot 

 so broad, not so orbicular, and of a more membranous textiire than other Australian 

 species of the genus ; segments narrow, forking at aboui 4 or 5in. from the base, 

 and again at a little more than half-way up, tapering thence to long, fine points ; 

 a bristle in the lower, but seldom in the upper forks. Inflorescence an 

 elongated panicle. The one received was 7ft. long, base' of common 

 peduncle 2in. broad, and as well as the secondary peduncles flat on the one side 

 and rounded on the other. Bracts closely sheathing, obtuse at the end, branches' 

 8, forked towards the extremities, and bearing numerous flexuose slender spikes 

 of fruits (no flowers seen). Ftuits on the speciraen to hand not mature, 

 pyriform or oblong-ovate, 4 or 5 lines long, pericarp smooth.^ — L. himilis, R. Br., 

 var. ; Bail. Ql. Agri. Journ. ii. 130. 



Hab.: Somerset, Cape York Peninsula, Frank L. Jardme. 



Leaves used lor thatching humpies. — Roth. 



Core of young stems eaten. — Roth. 



The above two palms may probably have been taken by botanists for one or other of those' 

 doubtful species of Dr. Eobt. Brown, viz., L. humilis andi. inermis. I gave them provisionally 

 in the work above quoted as varieties of the former, but as doubts still exist regarding the 

 identity of Ihat species 1 have thought it better in the present case to give them specific 

 rank bearing the names of the authors of the Flora Australiensis. ' • 



3. Ii. IVXariae (after Maria, Duchess of Edinburgh), F. r. ]\[. Fragm. xi. 54. 

 A tree of about 40ft. high. Leaves very pale or glaucous ; petioles almost lin. 

 broad at the upper end, the upper face nearly flat, trigono-convexed on the back, 

 unarmed at least in the upper part; blade 3 to 5Jft. long, almost,,, pinnately 

 contracted towards the base, the longer segments l|-in. broad, split above the 

 middle,, the lobes finely attenuated, with a thread between the lobes. Fruit 

 globose, about fin. diameter. Albumen somewhat lead-coloured. Embryo about 

 1 line long, white. — F. v. M. I.e. 



Hab.: I have received a portion of a leaf from F. L. Bernetj, ot Hellenslie, Campaspe 

 Kiver, which in all prct ability belongs to this inland palm. 



4. Zi. australis (Australian), Mart' Hist. Nat. Palm. iii. 241; DeiUh. Fl. 

 ^«sf)-. vii. IJO. Cabbage-tree Pahn. " Konda," Kockhampton, T/ioset. Sterns 

 attaining 40 to 80ft. Leaves in a dense crown, orbicular in circumscription when 

 fully out, 3 to 5Jft. diameter, decurved, divided to the middle or lower down into 

 narrow plicate acuminate lobes either entire or 2-cleft at the apex ; without 

 threads or bristles between the lobes, at least of the adult leaves ; petiole 

 decurved, 5ft. long, about lin. broad at the top, enlarging downwards, 2in. broad 

 before reaching the base, at the immediate base Sin. broad, the margins f of the 

 way up armed with close, short, stout, curved prickles, a few of which are curved 

 upwards ; ligula prominent. Panicle large, very much branched, quite glabrous, 

 the primary branches thick, often angular, and usually much curved and flexuose, 

 the ultimate branches or spikes 1 to 3in. long. Spatha at the base of the panicls 

 sheathing with a lanceolate point, 6 to lOin. long. Inner perianth about In- 

 line long, the cuter fully ^ as long with very acute lobes. Fruit globular, 

 6 to 9 lines diameter, the pericarp hard and crustaceous when dry. Seed 

 globular. — Wendl. and Drude in Linnfea, xxxix. 232; Bot. Mag,,t. 6274; 

 Corypha australis, R. Br. Prod. 267; L. i»«Myits, Wendl. a Drude, Lc. 229. 



Hab.: Many of the coastal scrubs south and here and there in the tropics. 



Formerly the leaves of this palm were largely used in hat-making, the eabhage-lree hat being 

 generally worn. The wood is also used by the natives for making spear-heads. — E. Palmer. 



Wood, or outer part of the stem, moderately hard, of a dark-colour, and beautifully marted. 

 — Bailei/s Cat. Ql. Woods, No. 421. 



