30 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVII, January 1963 
atis subulatis adscendentibus, in apice subulato 
marginibus et midnervo infra cum subulato- 
serrulis 0.3-07 mm longis 3-7 mm separatis, 
inflorescentia foeminea cum syncarpio unico 
terminali, pedunculo 23 cm et plus longo cla- 
vato in apice 11 mm diametro subtrigono, syn- 
carpio globoso ? 12 cm diametro cum circa 38 
phalangibus eis 5-5.5 cm longis 3-3.8 cm latis 
27-3.3 cm crassis cuneatis 5-6-angulosis in 
sicco pallide brunneis lateribus laevibus lucidis 
subcurvatis vel subplanis parte l /$ supera libera 
apice convexo vel alte convexo suturis lateral i- 
bus nullis, sinibus centralibus apicalibus olim 
lineas brunneas, carpelis 8-10 apicibus rotun- 
datis interioribus minoribus et l /z tarn grandibus 
quam rnarginalibus, stigmatibus 2-2.5 mm 
longis cordatis vel reniformibus obliquis centri- 
petalibus, sinibus proximalibus brevibus l A~ l A 
ad fondam extentis, endocarpio mediali 2.5-3 
cm longo osseoso extra brunneo intra pallidi 
lateribus 2 mm crassis, seminibus 12 mm longis 
3.5 mm diametro obliquiter ovoideis, mesocar- 
pio supero in apice carpello quoque cavernam 
formanti eis lateralibus majoribus cum fibris 
longitudinalibus et membranis albis medullosis, 
mesocarpio basali fibroso et carnoso. 
DESCRIPTION OF ALL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: 
Probably treelike; leaves 85-130 cm long, 3 A 
cm wide, coriaceous, furrowed above the mid- 
rib, the two halves gently arching, at midsec- 
tion with 21-39 secondary parallel longitudinal 
veins in each half, these conspicuous below, no 
visible cross veins, blade swordlike, tapering 
upwards and gradually narrowed to a 15 cm 
subulate, trigonous apex which 10 cm down 
is 2.5 mm wide, the base amplexicaul and 
unarmed, but beginning at 5 cm the margins 
with prickles 2.5-4 mm long, 8-14 mm apart, 
arcuate subulate, pale, ascending at 45°; the 
midrib below beginning at 8.5 cm with prickles 
3. 5-4. 5 mm long, 12-20 mm apart, the base 
heavy conic, the rest subulate, fully reflexed; at 
midsection the margins with prickles 3-3.5 mm 
long, 6-11 mm apart, arcuate subulate, ascend- 
ing, reddish-tipped; the midrib below narrow 
and salient, with prickles 1.5-2 mm long, 7-10 
mm apart, arcuate subulate, ascending; on the 
subulate apex the margins and midrib below 
with subulate-tipped serrations 0.3-07 mm 
long, 3-7 mm apart; pistillate inflorescence 
with a single, terminal syncarp; peduncle more 
than 23 cm in length, clavate and at apex 11 
mm in diameter, somewhat 3 -sided; syncarp 
apparently globose and 12 cm in diameter, and 
bearing about 38 phalanges, these 5-5.5 cm 
long, 3-3.8 cm wide, 27-3.3 cm thick, cunei- 
form, 5-6 angled, when dried pale brown, the 
sides smooth and shiny, gently curving or flat- 
tish, free in upper Vd, the apex convex or high 
convex, lateral sutures none, central apical si T 
nuses mere brown lines on the obtuse apex; 
carpels 8-10, the apices rounded, not raised, 
the inner ones smaller, about Vi the size of the 
marginal ones; stigmas 2-2.5 mm long, cordate 
to reniform, oblique, centripetal; proximal sinus 
a very short crack or hole by the stigma, run- j 
ning V4-V3 way to the valley bottom; endocarp j 
median, 2.5-3 cm long, bony, pale within, dark j 
brown near the margins, the seed cavities shin- j 
ing, the lateral walls 2 mm thick; seeds 12 mm j 
long, 3.5 mm in diameter, obliquely ovoid; 
upper mesocarp forming in the apex of each 
carpel a cavern, the lateral ones thrice the larger, 
with longitudinal fibers and white medullary I 
membranes; basal mesocarp fibrous and fleshy. 
HOLOTYPUS: Malaya, Pahang, Beserah, Kuan- 
tan, sea level, 18 Aug. 1929, M. R, Henderson 
22,746 (sing): 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Singapore, 15 Feb. 
1870, J. S. Gfoodenough}, (SING). This has 
leaves only 2 cm wide, and with 21 secondary 
veins on a side, but the phalanges seem iden- 
tical. 
DISCUSSION: P. obtusus is a member of the 
section Pandanus. In that section the most simi- 
lar species seems to be a Marquesan one, P, 
tectorius Soland. var. uapensis F. Br., which has 
the phalanges 5.4-6 cm long, 4.5 cm wide, the 
apical and lateral sutures very shallow or super- 
ficial; apical central sinuses 1 mm deep; stigmas 
3 mm long; endocarp supramedian, but the 
leaves and syncarp are unknown. P. obtusus has 
the phalanges 5-5.5 cm long, 3-3.8 cm wide, 
the lateral sutures none, the apical central si- 
nuses mere tessellate rulings; stigmas 2-2.5 mm j 
long; and the endocarp median. 
The new epithet is the Latin word obtusus , j 
blunt or obtuse, and is given with reference to 
the obtuse phalange and carpel apices. 
