466 



Spec. Chae. Stem subterraneous : fronds simply pinnate, pinnae 

 cuneate, prsemorse : spadix intra-foliaoeous, a cubit long, terminal, 

 at first erect, then nodding : flowers pale yeUowisb, rubicund at the 

 apex, small : berry ovate-oblong, dry. 



CMttagong. Assam. Flowering in the rains. 



GEFUS IV. CARYOTA. 

 IHoitfleoia Xinneandvia. Sex: Syst: 



Berw. The Greeks gave the name to a species of Date. 



Gen. Chak. Flowers monoecious on the same spadix, sessile, 

 males almost without bracts, twin with the bibracteolate female in 

 the middle : spathes basilar, complete. Males. — Outer calyx 3- 

 sepaled, sepals imbricated, thickened at the back, inner deeply 

 3-parted, segments valyate : stamens numerous : filaments very 

 short, connate into an urceolus at the base : anthers linear, fixed by 

 the base : rudimentary pistil none. Females. — Calyx as in the male, 

 sepals imbricated : effete stamens 3, club-shaped, or none : pistil 

 simple : stigma acute, either double or triple, stigmas connate 

 into a pyramid : ovules solitary : berry 1 — 2-seeded : seeds convex 

 at the back : albumen homy, ruminated. — Tall palms : stem ringed : 

 aB- the fronds terminal, bipinnate : pinhiilse dimidiate-flabeUiform 

 or cuneate-triangular, prsemorse-dentate in front and sometimes 

 cleft ; petioles sheathing : spadices springing between the leaves, 

 large, pendulous, simply fastigiately branched, branches many, 

 flowering downwards : caudex dying out after the fructification of 

 the lowest, propagating, however,- by lateral suckers : flowers 

 coriaceous, green : ftuit sub- globose, sparingly fleshy, purplish 

 black or green., 



(I) C. XTREirs. {Linn. J 



Bent Linn. Zeyl. 369.— sp. 1660.— Eoxb. flor. Ind. III. 625. 



Engrcm. Lam. ni. t. 897.— Mart. Palm. t. 107 — 108.— Eheede 

 Mai. I. t. xi. 



Spec. Chak. Stem 60 feet, straight, cylindric : adult plant 

 bearing suckers towards the end of flowering : pinnules mem- 

 branaceous coriaceous, obliquely triangular or dimidiate-rhomboid, 

 cuneate downwards, the outer side more produced, unequally toothed 

 in front: stamens of male flowers 18 — 32: berries depresso-globose, 

 2-seeded : at first green, then yellowish or reddish, sparingly fleshy, 

 burning. 



Malabar. Coromandel. Bengal. Flowering nearly all the year. 



