The Palms of British East India. 29 



culo supra-decomposito elongate- apicependulo-nutantefruc- 

 tus quasi ambitu flabelliformi, calyce bracteam triplo-supe- 

 rante corollam subsequante, staminibus distinctis, floribus 

 faemineis conico-oblongis, fructibus rotundis vel oblongis 

 (castaneo-rubris,) cuspidatis. 



Hab. — In thick jungles about Malacca, as at Pringitt, 

 Ayer Punnus (Rhim.) Sent by Emanuel Fernandez with 

 the name Rotang Chochoor. 



Descr.* — A Palm with a short erect or decumbent stem, forming 

 thick tufts. Diameter of stem with sheaths three inches. Sheaths 

 rather short, highly armed with spines, disposed in very long lines, 

 the longest spines nearly two inches in length. Petioles channelled 

 rather high up, three to five feet long before they bear pinnae, 

 angular rounded, armed, especially on upper side, with stout, very 

 unequal spines. Margins of channelled part densely armed with bris- 

 tles, disposed in short oblique lines. Pinniferous part nine-ten 

 feet long, convex, trigonal, the convex side armed with stout soli- 

 tary distant spines pointing downwards, the upper angular part 

 smooth, or armed about the middle with short teeth. Pinnce very 

 numerous, alternate, generally approximate, often nearly opposite, 

 linear, two feet long, nine-ten lines broad, subulate-acuminate, above 

 carinate by the prominent mid- vein, which bears bristles towards the 

 point, below the bristles are confined to the central and a lateral 

 vein on each side, in some the bristles are very long ; margins cutting 

 from appressed bristle-teeth ; the apex which is strong, and very 

 acuminate, hispid with bristles. 



Spadices axillary, peduncle in one specimen armed, as are likewise 

 some of the spathes slightly, but generally unarmed, concealed by 

 spathes, much branched, the male decompound. Spathes scarious, 

 not much split, generally quite smooth ; limbs erect. 



* Specimens : entire of male plants, several portions of male and female spa- 

 dices, and an entire ditto, in fruit. 



