346 The Palms of British East India. 



which the germs sit. Germs three, each one-celled, and containing 

 a single ovulum attached to the middle of the cell on the inside. 

 Styles three, recurved, small and short. Stigma small. Drupe 

 oval, fleshy, small, smooth, of a bright red, of the size of a very 

 small olive, one-celled. Seed solitary, oblong, with a deep longi- 

 tudinal groove on one side. Embryo in the middle of the back, 

 or convex side of the seed." Roxb. o. c. I. c. 



This species varies considerably in the size of the leaves 

 and breadth of the pinnae, and in the size and degree of 

 exsertion of the male spadix. The male plant is probably 

 scarcely distinguishable from that of the succeeding, but the 

 female is at once by the shortness of the peduncle of the 

 spadix, which is generally shorter, and never, so far as I 

 know, longer than the spathes. 



Dr. Royle* mentions a species closely allied to, if not 

 identical with this, inhabiting the Kheree Pass, Siwalik 

 Hills, at an elevation of 2500 feet, in company with Pinus 

 longifolia. I omit his name, because it is not accompanied 

 with any defining characters. Most probably it is the suc- 

 ceeding or a third species of this form, which requires 

 much more examination than it has received. 



I subjoin the description of a specimen sent by Colonel 

 Ouseley, who informs me that it is considered by the natives 

 as a distinct species. The only differences I can detect are 

 the shortness and less induplication of the pinnae, and the 

 colour of the fruit. 

 P. acaulis var, melanocarpa. 



Descr. — A dwarf palm not exceeding 2 feet in height, including 

 the leaves. Stem bulbiform, 6 inches long, covered with the protuber- 

 ant hardened persistent bases of the petioles, their points being spread- 

 ing recurved. Leaves 1-1 J foot long, ascending then spreading. Peti- 

 ole below flat, above quite compressed. Pinnce subfasciculate, fasci- 

 cles subopposite, some ascending on either side others spreading, 



* Illustr. p, 394, 397. 



