473 

 GENUS X. PH(ENIX. 



Dioeoia Hexandrla. Sea: Systi 



Deriv. The Greek name for the Date. 



Gen. Chae. Plowers dioeoiotis, sessile on a branched spadix sur- 

 rounded by a complete simple spathe, bracteate. Males. — Outer 

 calyx cup-shaped, 3-toothed, inner 3-sepaled, valvate in sestivation : 

 stamens 6, (rarely 3 or 9) : filaments very short, almost none : 

 anthers linear, erect. Females. — Outer calyx cupular, 3-toothed, 

 inner 3-Bepaled, sepals imbricated: ovaries 3, globose-ovate, 

 distinct, one ripening : ovules erect i stigmas sessile, hooked : berry 

 1-seeded : sarcocarp soft : endocarp thin, membranaceous : seed 

 linear-oblong, with a ventral longitudinal furrow : albumen homy : 

 embryo dorsal or almost basilar. — Stem middle-sized or almost none, 

 ringed : fronds terminal, pinnate, pinnae narrow, stiffish, arranged 

 in bundles, quite entire or shortly 2-cleft, lowest ones contracted 

 into subulate spines^ spadices bursting from between the fronds, 

 surrounded by a 2-edged woody spathe : peduncle compressed, 

 flower-bearing branches sub-fastigiate : flowers coriaceous, sup- 

 ported by very small membranaceous bracts : berries yellowish or 

 purplish, endocarp white. 



(1) P. sTLVBsniis. (Boxb.j 



Ident. Eoxb. flor.lnd. III. p. 787. 



Syn. Elate sylvestris, Linn. 



Engrwv. Mart. Palm. t. 136.— Eheede Mai. III. t. 22—25. 



Spec. Chae. Stem long, thickish: pinnae arranged in sub- 

 opposite fascicles, ensiform, termilvated by a spine, tetrastichous. 



Common throughout the country, flowering in March. 



(2) P. PAiTJDOSA. (Roxh.) 



Ident. Eoxb. 1. c. p. 789. 



Engrai). Mart. Palm. t. 136. 



Spec. Chae. Stem straight, 6 — 16-feet, sub-arboreous: pinnae 

 solitary, ensiform, flaccid, bifarious : embryo in the base of the 

 seed. 



Eorests bordering the Delta of the Ganges. Soonderbunds. 

 Flowering in the Jiot season. 



