IiODOICBA. 239 



set spines. The leaves are large, fan-sbaped, spreading-, 

 and dark green. Native of Australia. 



L. JenJcinsiana. — This fine plant forms a beautiful orna- 

 ment to a greenbouse, and is valuable for producing a 

 tropical effect in tbe open air during tbe summer months, 

 ■while young specimens form handsome objects in the 

 ■window or as table decorators. The petioles vary in 

 length from two to ten feet, according to the age of 

 the plant ; they are somewhat keeled below, flat above, 

 and armed at the edges with very stout sharp-pointed 

 spines, which are slightly recurved. The leaves are fan- 

 shaped, two to four feet across, plaited, and of a rich dark 

 gvreen ; the margin is divided into somewhat broad seg- 

 ments. Native of Sikkim. 



L. olwxformis. — This is a very handsome species, the 

 Saribus oUvceformis of some authors. In a young state 

 ithis somewhat resembles L. altissvma. The petioles are 

 from two to four feet in height, stout, brown at the base, 

 sand enclosed in a tissue of dark brown netted fibres, armed 

 with a few small reddish spines. The leaf is rather reni- 

 form than fiabellate, from two to three feet from the point 

 of attachment to the margin, divided into pendulous seg- 

 ments for about one-third of the length, and of a shining 

 •dark green in colour. Native of Java. 



LODOICEA. 



A genus belonging to PahnacecB, which contains but 

 •one species. It is characterised by its large fan-shaped 

 leaves, which are some ten or twelve feet in diameter, and 

 its straight slender stem, which frequently attains a height 

 of fifty or sixty feet. The flowers are unisexual, and 

 produced upon separate plants, though both sexes are 

 similarly constructed in their outward parts. The fruits 



