The Palms of BrTtish East India. 91 



Descr.* — Erect, about eight feet in height. Sheaths armed with 

 long deflexed flat subulate black thorns, disposed in lines but in- 

 dividually distinct ; surface dark brown from adhering scurf. Peti- 

 oles of the upper leaves gibbous at the base, lower naked part about 

 ten inches long, concavo-convex, armed with a dorsal row of stout 

 hooked prickles, and along the margins with long generally deflexed 

 spines, and within these towards the base short ascending ones ; 

 these are extended into the flagellus ; pinniferous part convex below 

 and armed with hooked palmate prickles, which are continued into 

 the flagellus, (which is about l£ foot long;) above rounded- angular 

 unarmed. Pinna alternate, equidistant, linear, 10-11 inches long, 

 6-lines broad, subulato-acuminate, above with the central carina and 

 2 lateral veins bristle bearing, underneath smooth, margins bristly. 

 Lower leaves without flagelli. Petiole (of the pinniferous part) con- 

 vex-trigonal, unarmed. Pinna alternate or often sub-opposite, linear, 

 eighteen inches long, eight lines broad, otherwise like the others, 

 except that the midvein below bears towards the apex numerous small 

 bristles. 



Spadix with its peduncle adhering to the next sheath, unarmed, co- 

 vered with dark brown scurf. Spathes more open than in the others ; 

 outer one 16-17 inches long, bicarinate, armed between and along 

 the carinse with weak, long, subulate, deflexed, flat, black spines ; the 

 beak 9-10 inches long, erect, flat, sparingly armed except towards the 

 apex, with long deflexed subulate bristles : its surface when young 

 also covered with black scurf. Branches of the spadix 2-3 inches 

 long, included, ascending, ferruginously scurfy. Spikes few flowered, 

 stout, flexuose. 



Flowers on short stalks or sessile, bracteate, inner bracteole cup- 

 shaped, and between it and the outer bracteole a niche. Calyx sub- 

 cylindrical, minutely 3 -toothed. Corolla scarcely twice as long as 

 the calyx, divided nearly to the base into three erect segments. 

 Sterile stamina 6. Ovarium oblong, covered with denticulate scales : 

 3 -celled. Ovules erect, solitary. Style three -partite nearly to the 

 base ; branches revolute, stigmatose internally. 



Spathes of the fruit-bearing spadix opened out, or none. Fruit 

 surrounded at the base by the flattened out, more or tess split, pe- 



* Specimens : complete upper part of a female plant in flower and fruit. 



