CALAMUS. 133 



peculiar and most distinct appearance ; the ground colour 

 is grassy green, over wliicli are irregularly scattered spots 

 and blotches of white and red, the mid-rib being rich 

 carmine. From Para. 



0. VersoJiaffeltii. — A variety of moderate growth, with 

 large somewhat heart-shaped leaves, the ground colour of 

 which is brilliant green, the entire surface being irregularly 

 spotted with bright red. From Para. 



G. Wallidi. — This variety has dark olive green leaves, 

 with large irregrdar-shaped spots and blotches of the purest 

 white, and the veins all yellowish white. 



Calamus. 



An extremely elegant and interesting genus of Palms, 

 containing many species. They are divided into two 

 genera by some authors, viz. : — Calamus, having the flowers 

 densely clustered upon branching spikes, each branch 

 having a separate spathe, which is not sufficiently large to 

 enclose it ; and Bcemonorops, having its flowers scattered 

 along the spikes, not clustered, the spikes being also 

 enclosed in separate spathes, which quite envelop them. 

 These are the chief points of distinction, and if they were 

 definite, would be sufficient to identify them, but as all 

 sorts of intermediate forms are to be found, it becomes 

 extremely difficult to decide where one ends and the other 

 begins ; therefore we think it preferable for this work to 

 retain the original genus intact. These plants are all of 

 slender growth. Many of them climb to the tops of the 

 bighest trees in their native forests, and often extend for 

 several hundred feet ; others, however, do not exceed 

 fifteen or twenty feet in height. The flowers are pro- 

 duced upon branching spikes, clustered or scattered, each 



