402 Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



HEMITHRINAX 



Hook. f. in Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. pi. HI, 930; Becc. in Webbia di U. 

 Mart. H (1907) 243. 



Hemithrinax compacta Hook. f. 1. c. 931 ; Becc. 1. c. 245. Thrithrinax com- 

 pacta Gris. et. Wendl. ex Gris. Cat. Cub. 221 ; Sauv. V]. Cub. n. 2381. 

 I cannot describe the general aspect of this palm, as there is no picture 

 of it. I have little doubt, however, that it must be very like a Thrinax, as 

 the genus Hemithrinax differs only and very slightly from Thrinax of the 

 Sectio Typhlothrinax, in that the stamens have the anthers borne on very 

 short filaments, which, during the anthesis, are reverted or curved down- 

 wards, so that the anthers show externally the side that normally is turned 

 towards the interior; the dehiscence of the anther-cells, therefore, appears 

 to be extrorse, while that of the Thrinax takes place in the usual way or is 

 introrse. The anther-cells are separated by an unusually broad connective. 

 (Figure 163). 



Figure 163. Hemithrinax compacta. a, portion of a flowering branchlet; b, c, 

 flowers during the anthesis; d, e, anthers, dorsal side; f, anther, inner side, becom- 

 ing external by reversion of the filament during the anthesis; g, flower from 

 which the anthers have been removed; h, longitudinal section of an ovary; i, 

 fruit; k, seed; 1, longitudinal section of a seed through the embryo. From Wright 

 No. 3222. 



This palm, is known only from Wright's n. 3222, and the precise locality 

 in which the specimens were gathered is uncertain. Sauvalle gives for it 

 the vernacular name "Palma Caule", 



THRINAX 



Linn. f. ex Swartz, Prod. veg. Ind. occ. (1788) 57, et Fl. Ind. occ. I, 

 614, t. 13; Sargent in Bot. Gaz. XXVII (1899), 83; Becc. in Webbia di U. 

 Mart. II (1907), 247. 



