PEITCHAKDIA. 291 



PLECT0C05IIA. 



A genus of Indian Palms, which, although ascending 

 in habit, like the Calami, produce much stouter stems. 

 The leaves are pinnate, and furnished at the extremities 

 with long whip-like tails, which are armed upon the under 

 sidewith large, stout, and very strong compound claw-like 

 spines, resembling a hand, or more nearly perhaps the foot 

 of the mole {Talpa europea). The flowers are , borne upon 

 long branches, which are produced from the axils of the 

 leaves ; the spathes are in two rows, and overlapping, and 

 «ach encloses its own spike of bloom ; the sexes are pro- 

 duced separately and upon distinct plants. The fruits are 

 round, clothed with rough overlapping scales, and are 

 one-seeded. Plectocomias are very handsome as young 

 plants, and are well deserving general cultivation. They 

 are easily grown, and as they frequently produce suckers, 

 a succession of young plants can be maintained to replace 

 the older ones when too large. They should be potted in 

 (rich loam and peat, in about equal parts. 



P. assamica. — An elegant robus^growing plant, with 

 gracefully arched leaves, which in a young state are broad 

 and deeply bifid, but ultimately become pinnate ; the upper 

 side is deep g^een, and the under side a beautiful powdery 

 ■white. Native of Assam. 



P. elongata. — This is a species of great beauty. In a 

 young state the leaves are broad, deeply bifid, and dark 

 ^een, these eventually become pinnate ; the petioles 

 -are clothed with long sharp spines. Native of the East- 

 Jndies. 



Pkitchaedia. 



A small genus of Palms, with flabellate plaited leaves and 

 v2 



