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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XV, July 1961 
serratis dentibus 1 mm. longis 1.5-3 mm. dis- 
tantibus adscendentibus, midnervio cum serris 
simulantibus sed 3-13 mm. distantibus, pedun- 
culo circa 30 cm. longo trigono folioso, bracteis 
longe subulato-acuminatis et cum spinis sim- 
ulantibus, syncarpio "oblongo scilicet 3 dm. 
longo 1.5 dm. diametro,” phalangibus 8.7 cm. 
longis 6.2 cm. latis 5.2 cm. crassis late cunei- 
form i bus sed in sectio transversali trigono, apice 
subconvexo, parte l A supera libera, suturis lat- 
eralibus nullis, lateribus laevibus gradatim con- 
vexis in sicco pallide brunneis obtuse 3-4-an- 
gulosis, sinibus centralibus apicalibus nullis 
suturis tantum lineis superficielibus tessellatis 
sed in post maturite cum rima lata, carpellis 6, 
apicibus subconvexis non protensis, stigmatibus 
4-5 mm. longis suborbicularibus vel obreni- 
formbus centripetalibus tota elevatis obliquis, 
sutura proximali plerumque ad suturam extenta, 
endocarpio mediali 3-4 cm. longo osseoso ob- 
scure brunneo superficie interiori lucida, mar- 
ginibus lateralibus 2-3 mm. crassis, seminibus 
2. 2-2 .4 cm. longis 11 mm. diametro anguste 
obovoideis, mesocarpio cum cavernis subdis- 
tinctis cum fibris et medulla firma persistenti, 
mesocarpio basali fibroso et carnoso et dicet 
esculenti. 
diagnosis OF holotype: Tree, up to 6-8 m. 
tall, large stemmed; leaves 3.4 "to at least 4” 
m. long, 11-13 cm. wide, firm, spongy coriace- 
ous, slightly M-shaped in cross-section, ligulate, 
but near the apex narrowed to the (acute?) 
tip, the base amplexicaul, unarmed for about 10 
cm., then the margins coarsely subulate serrate, 
the teeth 3.5-5 mm. long, 10-25 mm. apart, 
brown-tipped, the midrib below with similar 
teeth 3 mm. long, 15-30 mm. apart, reflexed; 
at the midsection the margins with the teeth 
3-4 mm. long, 7-17 mm. apart, heavy subulate, 
appressed ascending, the midrib below salient 
and with similar, ascending teeth 4-8 cm. apart, 
near the apex the margin with teeth 1 mm. 
long, 1.5-3 mm. apart, subulate-serrations, the 
midrib below with similar teeth but these 3-13 
mm. apart; peduncle about 30 cm. long, trigon- 
ous, leafy bracted, the bracts similarly spiny, 
and long subulate acuminate; syncarp "oblong, 
at least 3 dm. X 1-5 dm., but none seen 
mature”; phalange 8.7 cm. long, 6.2 cm. wide, 
5.2 cm. thick, broad cuneiform, but trigonous 
in cross section, the apex low convex, upper V6 
free, lateral sutures none, the sides smooth, 
gently convex, pale brown when dried, with 3- 
4 obtuse angles; apical central sinuses none, the 
suture lines merely superficial and tessellate; in 
post maturity a broad crack develops near each 
sutural region; carpels 6, their apices low con- 
vex, not projecting; stigmas 4-5 mm. long, 
suborbicular to obreniform, centripetal, wholly 
elevated and oblique; proximal crease running 
quite or nearly to the sinus line; endocarp me- 
dian, 3-4 cm. long, bony, dark brown, the inner 
walls polished and shining, the lateral walls 2- 
3 mm. thick; seeds 2.2-2.4 cm. long, 11 mm. 
in diameter, narrowly obovoid; apical mesocarp 
of scarcely distinct caverns, with longitudinal 
fibers and a firm, persistent medullary tissue; 
basal mesocarp fibrous and fleshy, reported to 
be edible. 
HOLOTYPUS: Maidive Islands: Male Atoll, 
Kuda Bados Islet, occasional in coconut planta- 
tion, 1 m. alt., key picked up on ground nearby, 
April 1, 1956, F. R. Fosberg 36,899 (US). 
DISCUSSION: P. Fosbergii is a member of the 
section Pandanus, but the structure of the apex 
of the phalange is bizarre for that section, and at 
a glance more closely resembles the section Vin- 
sonia. This is due to the broad and obtuse apex 
of the phalange which is not lobed. The inter- 
carpellary apical sinuses are superficial and are 
mere tessellate lines, though in postmaturity 
wide cracks appear at or near the sinus lines. 
Diagnostic of the section Vinsonia are the flush, 
horizontal stigmas. In P. Fosbergii the stigmas 
are of another sort. They are large (4-5 mm. 
long) , strongly elevated, oblique and centripetal. 
Hence, under the present classification of the 
genus, the new species must be placed in the 
section Pandanus. 
Though not a close relative, the most similar 
appearing species is P. spiralis R. Br. of Austra- 
lia. This species has the phalanges 6 cm. long, 
the apex convex; carpels 9-20; stigmas 2-3 mm. 
long, hippocrepiform; seeds 4 mm. in diameter, 
very narrowly elliptic; and the apical mesocarp 
of separate caverns. P. Fosbergii has the pha- 
langes 8.7 cm. long, the apex low convex; car- 
pels 6; stigmas 4-5 mm. long, suborbicular; 
seeds 10 mm. in diameter, obovoid; and the 
apical mesocarp of confluent caverns. 
