CHARACTERS OF THE LEAVES OF THE DATE PALM. 21 



In divergence from the rachis, the antrorse spines are usually 

 rather closely appressed, a divergence of only 5° is noted in some, 

 and other spines may diverge 25° or 30° from the axis. In some 

 leaves the entire rank of antrorse pinnae to the apex may not diverge 

 more than 25° to 28°, but usually there is a spread through the 

 middle of the blade of 35° to 42° interspersed with others of only 

 20° to 23°. In divergence from the plane of the blade, the antrorse 

 class among the spines shows a good deal of variety, some basal ones 

 diverging sharply, the majority only from 12° or 15° to 20° to 30° 

 or more. From the middle of the blade to the apex their divergence 

 is from 20° to 30° or rarely 40°, 45°, or more. 



The introrse class, seldom found among the spines in this variety, 

 shows strong axial angles of 40° to 50° and up to 72°, while from the 

 blade plane their divergence ranges from zero to 15°, 20°, or 25°, a 

 few forming angles of 35°, 40°, or even more. 



In the retrorse class a few spines may stand out strongly from the 

 rachis, but the majority are rather appressed. The retrorse pinnae 

 as a rule spread more than do the antrorse class at the same distances 

 out on the blade, ranging from 24° to 40°, 45°, or 48°. 



Measured from the blade plane this class has a distinct position, 

 some being placed at zero or at 5° ventrally, but the great number 

 incline backward from the plane, forming dorsal angles of 5° or 10°. 



For a comparison of Deglet Noor seedlings of various grades with 

 the pure variety, the above percentages and records of angles will be 

 found to afford the means for making very close distinctions. This 

 is important, from the fact that thus far comparisons seem to show 

 a strong correlation between leaf and fruit characters, the seedlings 

 bearing the nearest typical Deglet Noor fruit showing Deglet Noor 

 leaf characters in greatest detail. By analogy, it is presumed that 

 there will be a similar correlation between the leaf characters of male 

 seedling trees of a given variety and their capacity for transmitting 

 the characters of that variety when used as pollinators. 



Putting the above dry array of figures into concrete form shows 

 that the Deglet Noor has a suit of leaves thoroughly well armed at 

 all angles of approach, especially the lower portion of the blade, with 

 acute spines and sharply tipped pinnae. The protection of the tender 

 emerging leaves, but especially of the emerging flower stalks, is well 

 provided for. In cultural practice the operator in our country is 

 accustomed to clip off with stout shears the most of the spines, in order 

 to give him access to the flower heads for pollination. 



The fruiting stalks, or sobata, of the Deglet Noor are one of its 

 most characteristic features. (Fig. 12.) They are, with the strands, 

 or shamrokh, which bear the fruit, pale lemon colored in contrast with 

 the orange-yellow or orange stalks of most varieties. They are un- 



