Ptychoraphis] CX. PALM^E 647 



PtycliorapMs augusta, Becc. Syn. Areca augusta^ Kurz in '' Journ. of Botany," 

 1875, tab. 170. Nioobars, frequent. A tall slender palm, stem 80- 100 ft. high, 1 ft. 

 diam. L. 8-12 ft., leaflets narrow-linear, 2-3 ft. long, the lowest pair mncli longer. 

 Spadix deflexed, bearing numerous long spikes, $ fl. at the ends, supported by broad 

 bracts. Fr. 1 in. long, scarlet, 



3. BENTINCKIA, Berry; M. Brit. Ind. vi. 418. 



Tall unarmed slender palms, stem annulate, 1. pinnate, pet. sliort, base 

 amplexicaul, leaflets linear, not confluent, midrib distinct. Spadix androgy- 

 nous, on the stem below the 1., much branched, the spikes bearing in their 

 upper portion $ fl., while the lower portion is occupied by groups of one ? 

 with one or several $ fl., spathes numerous. All fl. are sunk in cavities of 

 the spike and supported by several bracts. Fr, exserted, oblique, trace of 

 stigma near the base. Seed spherical, grooved, pendulous, embi-yo basal, 

 endosperm uniform. Species 2. 



1. B. Coddapanua, Berry. Yern. Vdru Kamdvu {Bock Areca), Mai. South Tra van- 

 core, 2,500-6,000 ft., on precipitous cliffs, local, but very common within its restricted 

 areas. Stem annulate, 20-30 ft. high, 6 in. diam. L. 3-5 ft., leaflets 30-40 pair, 

 24-30 by 1-1^ in. Spathe enclosing the young inflorescence, 12 by 2 in., pale brown, 

 stands out horizontally from the stem. Spadix, after emerging from the sheathing 

 spathe, much ramified, bears numerous short spikes, 9-15 by J in., the entire inflor- 

 vescence red, 2 ft. long and 3 ft. broad, <? fl. J, 9 J in. diam. Fr. bright chocolate 

 coloured when ripe, i-| in. diam. 



2, B. nicoTbarica, Becc. — Syn. Orania nicoharica, Kurz in Journ. Bot. xiii. (1875) t. 

 171. Kamorta, ISficobars. Common, associated with Areca Catechu, Pinanga Manii 

 and Ptychoraphis augusta. Stem 50-60 ft. high, 9 in. diam. L. 5-^ ft., leaflets 6-24 in. 

 long. Inflorescence lJ-2 ft. Fr. 1 in. long, scarlet 



4. PINANGA, Blume; M, Brit. Ind. vi. 406, 



Similar to Areca^ but spathe usually one^ spadix sometimes simple, fl. 

 along the spike as a rule in clusters of 3, one $ between 2 cj fl., J fl. smaller 

 than $ . Stamens more than 6. Fr, ellipsoid, pointed at the ends. Species 24, 

 India and Malaya. 



A. Fruits in 3-6 rows on the spikes. 



1. P. gracilis, Bl.; Bjn. Areca gracilis, Gxi^.^Qlms t. 232 A. C. Vern. Mam gua, 

 Beng. ; Tawkun, Burm. Sikkim, subhimalayan tract and valleys up to 2,000 ft., 

 <jommon. Assam. Kliasi hills. Cachar. Chittagong. Arakan Yoma. Pegu. Mar- 

 taban, Tenasserim, in damp evergreen forest, ascending to 3,500 ft. A graceful palm, 

 stems usually in tufts of 4-8, 6-20 ft. high, 1-1 J in. diam. L. 8-4 ft. long, the upper 

 leaflets confluent. Fruiting spadix stout, 6-12 in. long, pendulous, often simple, fruits 

 in 3 rows, ^-^ in. long, scarlet or orange. 2. P. Griffitlxli, Becc. Khasi hills. Fr. in 

 4 rows on the spike. 3. P. hexasticlia, Scheff. Southern end of the Pegu Yoma. 

 Stem 25-30 ft. high, 4-5 in. diam. Spadix simple, reflexed, fl. spirally arranged in 

 4-6 rows, rachis thick fleshy. 



B. Fruits in 2 rows on the spikes. 



4. P. DicKsonii, Blume. Syn. Ar^^ca Dichsonii, Boxb. Western G-hats in evergreen 

 forest up to 3,000 ft., from North Kanara southwards. Slender, soboliferous, often 

 gregarious, stem smooth, 16-25 ft. high, 1-3 in. diam. Leaflets confluent. Spikes 

 distichous on a short stout spadix, enclosed in bud by a thick rigid compressed 

 spathe. <5 sepals nearly as long as petals, stamens 20-30. Fr. |-| in. long. 5. 

 P. Hookeriana, Becc. Khasi hills. Stem slender, 3-4 ft. high, internodes clavate, 

 scurfy while young, as also petioles and leaflets. Leaflets thin, opposite, 12 by 1 in., 

 obliquely acuminate, the uppermost pair connate at base. Spikes distichous, 4-8 in. 

 long, on a short spadix. Fr. 4 in. long, edible. 



6. P. Kuhlii, Blume. Syn. P. costata, Bl. ; Kurz F. Fl. ii. 538. Andamans.— - 

 Sumatra, Java. Stems tufted slender, 20-30 ft., 1J~2 in, diam. L. 3-4 ft. long. Spikes 

 numerous, 6-15 in., on a stout spadix 3-10 in., fr. J in. long. 7. P. Manii, Becc. 

 Andamans and Nicobars. Stem solitary, 50 ft. high, 5^ in. diam. L. 15-20 ft., leaflets 

 Sit. by 3in., leaf sheaths 4ft. long, clasping the stem. Spikes numerous, slender 

 pendulous. Fr. broadly ovoid. 8. P. liymenospatha. Hook, f . Tenasserim. Stem slender 

 •I in. diam., petiole and leaf -rachis scurfy. L. 12-15 in. long, leaflets numerous, alternate, 

 not confluent, 3-4 by J-J in., finely acuminate, slender n. obscure, no stout n. besides 

 the prominent midrib. Spike simple, stamens 9, spathe membranous, IJ in. long. 



