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LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH 



The habit i8 also peculiar, particularly as regards the spathe, but 

 this is difficult to make out from dried specimens. The seeds are as 

 in Podostemon. 



Botanical Garden^ April 29, 1844. 



I write to tell you that your Orchideee etc. have arrived, barely 

 In resuscitable order. 



Both palms appear to be quite new : The Calamus certainly is 

 new to me : it belongs to Coleospathse, spadicibus flagelliferis, judg- 

 ing at least from the specimen. 



The other appears to be a Wallichia or Harina, and I should say 

 quite distinct, but leaves of both are required. 



Of palms entire specimens should be gathered if possible, and 

 tied up in bundles, it is difficult to make out the habit of the parts 

 without such ! 



The Orobanche is as you say, a genuine Orobanche, Mr. Thomas's 

 despatches of Bentinckia seed, are I am sorry to say quite unripe. 

 Pray let me know what the habit and foliage of the second palm is : 

 it ought to have pinnated leaves, more or less jagged in some parts 

 of the margin, and white underneath. Is it the one you mention as 

 having such magnificent leaves. I have nothing more to say just now. 



Botanical Garden^ May 31, 1844. 



Yours has just arrived. I am very anxious for a bit of the Palm 

 with the big leaf, as without some of the leaf I cannot determine its 

 genus : so I hope you will be able to despatch a messenger for it : a 

 single pinna or piunula will give me some idea of what it is likely to 

 turn out. I am just now finishing the section ArengecB, to which I 

 imagine it will belong. Not that I wish you to put yourself to in- 

 convenience after what you say, but probably any one you may send 

 will be able to bring away a leaf. Whenever you may see it yourself, 

 oblige by merely noting its habit, height, thickness, direction of the 

 leavts, and Inflorescence. You will be astonished, I dare say, when 

 I tell you that there are two species of Wallichia in these Gardens, 

 exceedingly distinct ones too, yet they have always been confounded 

 as one. I have now three species, with bits of three others : so you 

 Bee what advances our Palms are making. 



