609 
NOTES ON PHILIPPINE PALMS, II. 
Xormanbya ( Ptychosperma ) Muelleri from New Guinea, with which it exactly 
agrees in the structure of the fruit, which is ruminate and terete and not deeply 
sulcate as in the typical species of Ptychosperma. From Norvianbya Muelleri 
however it differs in the leaflets, which in that palm are set in groups, while 
they are equidistant in N. Merrillii. Furthermore the termination of the leaflets 
of N. Merrillii is not the same as in N. Muelleri and in all species of Ptychos- 
perma, which have leaflets praemorse at the tip; those of N. Merrillii having a 
bifid apex. It is however, very evident that this structure is derived from that 
found in several species of Ptychosperma, where the two margins of the leaflets 
are more or less prolonged into a double acuminate point; in addition the 
uppermost leaflets in X- Merrillii are distinctly praemorse. 
The genus Xormanbya is distinguishable from Ptychosperma only by its terete, 
not longitudinally grooved seed, but though very similar in all other character- 
istics to this, it is perhaps better to keep it as a separate genus, for if we refuse 
to attach any value to the characters derived from the form and rumination of 
the seed, we shall find ourselves obliged to consider the genus Ptychosperma as 
an amalgamation of heterogeneous palms. 
ONCOSPERMA Illume. 
Oncosperma platyphyllum Becc. sp. nov. 
Graeile et subelatum ( ? ) . Folia elongata ; vagina rubiginose f urf uracea 
et spiculis nigris gracillimis armata; petiolo brevissimo ; rhachi subiner- 
mi ; segmentis numerosis aequidistantibus, 4-5 cm inter se dissitis, ensifor- 
mibus, acuminatis; intermediis 60 cm longis, 4-4.5 cm latis; superioribus 
et basilaribus angustioribus et valde brevioribus. Spadix comparate inter 
affines brevis, ramnlis floriferis 27-28 cm longis, 5-6 mm spissis, apicem 
versus paullo attenuatis, profunde crebreque scrobiculatis, pulvinulis 
floralibus orbicularibus, 2 mm latis. Fructus 5-seriati, sphaerici, 14-15 
mm diametro, stigmatum residuis lateralibus. Perianthium fructifernm 
9-10 mm diametro. 
Apparently not a large tree, about of the size of 0. gracilipes. Leaves 
elongate, with numerous equidistant leaflets; leaf -sheaths finely rusty- 
furfuraceous, strongly striated externally and more or less covered with 
very slender needle-like, unequal, brittle, black, shining spiculas, which 
vary in length from a few mm to 2 cm; similar spiculae are to be found 
near the margins of the petiole on its under surface and a few are 
scattered along the under surface of the rachis ; the petiole is very short, 
2.5 to 3 cm broad, rounded beneath, flat above. The intermediate leaflets 
are 60 cm long, 4 to 4.5 cm broad, 4 to 5 cm apart, ensiform, straight, 
acuminate, longitudinally plicate along 2 or 3 secondary nerves on each 
side of the midcosta; upper and lower leaflets narrower and. much shorter. 
Spadix apparently not very large; the few flower-bearing branches seen 
by me are about 27 cm long, 5 to 6 mm thick, narrowing a little toward 
the apex, very closely and regularly grooved by 5 longitudinal rows of 
orbicular, slightly concave scrobiculi, which have below them a con- 
spicuous, triangular, acute, horizontal or slightly deflexed bract; the 
circular scar left by the fallen fruits is 2 mm in diameter. Fruit (when 
89217 — — 2 
