xliv 



LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



inseparable from acting appointmenis, I see Blume has come out 

 with more Rurnphias, and I am anxious to know whether he has 

 given any of my Palms or not : Calamus I divide according to the 

 spathation, which varies a good deal, and is prominent. 



The many which again are capable of sub sectioning have long 

 tubular spathes which are not decidious ; though they may be worn 

 away : then comes the Calamus Draco section, in which all the 

 Spathes but the lowermost are deciduous per anthesin ; then comes 

 Platyspathium, in which all the Spathes are persistent per anthesin, 

 and flat; one of Rheed's too is of this section, though misquoted by 

 Dr. Roxburgh for his C. gracilis, then comes (Daeraonorops) Cymbo- 

 spathia, all the spathes persistent per anthesin, cymbiform, rostreate 

 the two outermost almost complete. To the first section, all those 

 belong in which the spadices are lengthened into whips. One 

 only has the petioles flagelliferous, the others vary with or without 

 flagelli, which character gives no good divisions. I have 26 spe- 

 cies, not one scarcely determinable, but that is not my fault. Of the 

 four species now in these gardens, (Roxb. had 15,) all are named 

 wrong, and under one, are confounded two very distinct species ! 



I would much rather have done something else, but these things 

 are bulky, and I want to lighten my baggage ; besides nine out of ten 

 Botanists give more credit for descriptions of palms, than for mi- 

 croscopic observations. In the preface, which will be the last part of 

 the paper, I have some original remarks ; and if I am here longer 

 than I expect, I will keep it back for maturation. I was sorry I 

 could not confirm Martius name Lepidocarynce : the genus is evi- 

 dently not different from Mauritia ; and sub families name you know 

 must be taken from the most perfect genus, which is Calamus. 



January 12, 1844. 



It is a pleasure to have such a correspondent as yourself. I hope 

 your son is quite recovered by this time, from that awful disease 

 Cholera, which makes me shudder when I hear its name. Many 

 thanks also, for the readiness with which you have intended to sup~ 

 ply my desiderata. The Cardamom will be an acquisition. Your 

 remarks about Dryptopetalum are quite just ; it is a singular plant, 

 and I propose some day examining it minutely. What do you say 



