48 The Palms of British East India. 



broadish immediately recurved segments, which are pappillose inside, 

 and in the bud lanceolate and erect. 



This species is closely allied in the pinnae to C. Royleanus 

 and Roxburghii, especially to the former. An obvious differ- 

 ence, however, exists in the small recurved deflexed spikes 

 of this species. In the pairs of flowers, one hermaphrodite, 

 and one male, it appears, so far as we know at present, 

 to stand alone. The presence of the male may, however, 

 judging from the similarity of the inner bracteola to those 

 of certain other species, which appear discoid, be expected 

 to occur in other instances. The minute examination of 

 these bracteoles in order to ascertain whether there is a 

 scar of a fallen flower becomes therefore necessary. So far 

 as can be judged from Roxburgh's short notice of C. monoi- 

 cus,* it would appear to resemble that species closely. 



* C. monoicus. 



Monoicous, scandent. Leaflets numerous, alternate, lineari-lanceolate, polished, 

 and bristly ; sheaths flagelliferou6 ; stamens monadelphous. 



Native place uncertain. It grows in the Botanic Garden to about the size of 

 the common ratan, and differs from it only in being monoicous, the divisions of the 

 corol lanceolate, and in the filaments being very completely united. Flowering 

 time, the rainy season. 



It is needless to give a full description of this plant, which is exactly like C. 

 Rotang, except in the above-mentioned circumstances. The male flowers are about 

 as numerous as the female ones, generally one of each from each of the annular 

 scales of the branches of the spadix. The common ratan (C. Rotang) I have 

 always found completely dioicous; this must therefore be considered a distinct 

 species." 



C. monoicus. Roxb. Fl. Ind. 3. p. 783. Mart. Palm. p. 209. 



I subjoin Roxburgh's description of C. polygamus, and three of Martius's spe- 

 cies, all which appear to me to belong to this part of this section. 



" C. polygamus, R. 



Scandent. Spines sub-verticilled. Sheaths flagelliferous. Inferior leaflets in 

 remote fascicles of three or four, above single and alternate, or opposite, all linear, 

 with a few bristles on the margins and nerves underneath. Male and hermaphro- 

 dite flowers on the same supra-decompound spadix. 



Hoodoom Bet of the people of Chittagong, where it is indigenous, and a most 

 extensive rambler; the general thickness when cleaned is that of a stout walking 



