Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 



IS 



scales on the middle nerve of the younger ones ; they dimi- 

 nish in size to the top of the frond, and the last two are 

 partly united at their base. Stipes of the frond scaly while 

 young, compressed, grooved above, the sheaths armed like 

 the trunk. Spadix within the sheath of the frond, embrac- 

 ing the stem, flattened at the base, much branched ; flower 

 bearing branchlets about two feet long, drooping, the lower 

 ones 3 — 4 together, the uppermost solitary or in pairs. 

 Spathe single, completely enclosing the spadix before ex- 

 pansion, compressed, two-edged, deciduous, partial spathes 

 none. Flowers sessile, one female between two males ; the 

 latter considerably the largest and deciduous. Male herma- 

 phroditei Perianth 6-parted, the outer leaflets small, the 

 inner much longer, and acuminated with fine points. Sta- 

 mina 6 ; anthers sagittate. Ovary small, surmounted by three 

 linear styles. Female, Perianth 6-parted ; leaflets nearly 

 equal, rounder and shorter than those of the male. Stamina 

 none. Ovary monosporous. Styles none. Stigmata three. 

 Fruit globose, about the size of a carabine bullet, of a 

 deep purple colour when ripe, with a glaucous tint, contain- 

 ing under a reddish pulp a single smooth globular nut. Nut 

 one-seeded, having a thickened whitish scar on the side, and 

 a small areola at the base opposite to the embryo. Seed 

 solid ; albumen ruminated ; embryo basilar, short cylindrical, 

 obtuse. 



Obs, — This differs from the common Areca in the disposi- 

 tion of the flowers on the spadices, and in having the nut 

 contained under a pulpy and not a fibrous covering. In A. 

 Catechu, the ovary is likewise monosporous. 



SAGUS LiEVIS. 



Heocandria Monogynia^ 



Frondibus inermibus pinnatis, spadicibus alterne ramosis, 

 floribus singulae squamas binis hermaphroditis, fructibus 

 subglobosis. 



