ASTEOCAETnM. 109 



cessftil, but the results have never equalled the expectations 

 regarding this plant. 



ASTEOCAETUM. 



With the exception of a few species, these Palms attain 

 a considerable height, and all require stove treatment. 

 Many of them find their homes on the banks of rivers, nor 

 do they stray far from such places. The stems are mostly 

 slender and prickly, and the leaves pinnate ; the flowers 

 are unisexual, produced upon simply branched spikes, the 

 male flowers occupying the upper portion, and the female 

 the lower portion of the spadix. The fruits are oval and 

 one-seeded. Pot in a compost of rich loam two parts, and 

 one part vegetable mould ; they enjoy an abundance of 

 water. Increased by seeds, and also by suckers when they 

 are to be obtained. 



A. acaule. — As its name implies, this species is stemless, 

 but it produces an abundance of leaves which are pinnate, 

 and from three to ten feet in length, slender and spread- 

 ing ; pinnae narrow, arranged in clusters, and pendent. 

 The whole plant is furnished profusely with long flat black 

 spines. This plant is abundant in moist woods on the Rio 

 Negro and Amazon River. 



A. hwmile. — ^This species seldom makes a stem more 

 than a few feet in height, and its sheathing petioles and 

 mid-rib are armed with long black spines. Leaves pin- 

 nate, from three to six feet in length, slender, and spread- 

 ing ; pinnae clustered, and pendent. Native of moist woods 

 on the Rio Negro. 



A. Murwmurvi. — The stem of this handsome plant seldom 

 exceeds twelve or fifteen feet in height, which, as well as 

 the sheathing base of the petioles, are densely clothed with 

 formidable black spines, upwards of six inches in length, 



