482 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVII, October 1963 
on the apex or partly on the proximal side of 
each lobe, brown, papillose; endocarp subme- 
dian, bony, pale brown, the lateral walls 0.6-0. 7 
mm thick, the inside surface dark brown, shiny, 
crowned by a weak apical acumination; seed 7 
mm long, narrowly obconic; apical mesocarp a 
large cavern divided by white medullary mem- 
branes; basal mesocarp fibrous and fleshy. 
HOLOTYPUS: Thailand, s. e. part, Chanburi, 
Makham, 100 m. alt., common along edge of 
savannah in scrub forest, 13 Jan. 1958, Tem 
Smitinand 4,054 (SING). 
DISCUSSION: P. obconicus is a member of the 
section Rykia, as is its closest relative, P. hori- 
zontalis St. John, of Vietnam, a species with 
peduncle 45 cm long; syncarp 10.5 cm long, 7-8 
cm in diameter, with about 720 drupes, these 
26-31 mm long, 9-11 mm wide; pileus base 
high rounded conic; endocarp in lower P 3 ; seed 
12 mm long; stem 1.5 m tall; leaves 2.7 m long, 
at midsection with 33 secondary veins in each 
half, and near the base the midrib below with 
thorns 3-4 mm long, 17-35 mm apart. P. ob- 
conicus has the peduncle 17 cm long; syncarp 
7.5 cm long, 4.5 cm in diameter, with about 496 
drupes, these 16-19 mm long, 7-9 mm wide; 
pileus base low obtuse; endocarp submedian; 
seed 7 mm long; acaulescent; leaves 96 cm long, 
at midsection with 37-39 secondary veins in 
each half, and near the base the midrib below 
with prickles 5-6 mm long, 12-25 mm apart. 
The new epithet is Latin, ob, inversed, coni- 
cus, conical, given in reference to the obconic 
shape of the endocarp. 
Pandanus obovatus sp. nov. (sect. Rykia ) 
Fig. 200 
DIAGNOSIS HOLOTYPI: Arbor ”6 m. alta ra- 
mosa, trunco cum spinis parvis,” foliis 1.1 m 
plus longis 3.1 cm latis subcoriaceis in sectione 
mediali cum 39 nervis secundariis in quoque di- 
midio gradatim ad apicem longe diminuentibus 
supra secundum midnervum canaliculatis mar- 
ginibus reflexis, basi integra amplexicaulique 
sed ex 5-7 cm marginibus cum aculeis pallidis 
2-2.5 mm longis 5-9 mm distantibus subulatis 
adscendentibus, midnervo infra per 15 cm 
inermi deinde cum aculeis reflexis 0.5-1 mm 
longis 15-18 mm distantibus subulatis, in sec- 
tione mediali marginibus cum aculeis 0.8-0. 9 
mm longis 7-10 mm distantibus subulatis ad- 
scendentibus, midnervo infra cum aculeis 0.3- 
0.5 mm longis 8-18 mm distantibus simulanti- 
bus adscendentibus, ad apicem marginibus mid- 
nervoque infra cum serrulis 0.2 mm longis 5-15 
mm distantibus, syncarpio "cum 15-18 carpelis,” 
drupis 7. 5-8. 3 cm longis 4.9 cm latis 3-7 cm 
rrassis obovoideis deltoideis laevissimis, lateri- 
bus superis laevibus brunneo-lucidis quasi cera- 
tis et pallide multirimosis deltoideis, parte 
supera libera, parte V 2 infera pallide brunnea et 
cum dorsis et valleculis angustis longitudinalibus 
intercbseratis, apice rotundato sed cum dorsis 
duobis ad stigmatem connectis, stylo cornicu- 
lato compresso divergento, stigmate 8 mm 
longo late obovato exsulcato subverticale brun- 
neo, endocarpio submediali parte centrali 4.3 
cm longa osseosa obscure brunnea ellipsoidea 
muris lateralibus 2-3 mm crassis et cum humeris 
fortibus pallidis lateralibus submediale affixis 
eis oris 3. 5-4. 5 cm longis marginalibus crassis, 
semine unico 25 mm longo 9 mm diametro 
ellipsoideo mesocarpio laterali apicalique con- 
tinuo sicco et medulloso sed cum fibris longitu- 
dinalibus, mesocarpio basali dimidio supero 
simulanti, dimidio infero fibroso et carnoso. 
DIAGNOSIS OF HOLOTYPE: Tree ”6 m. tall, 
branching; stem with small spines”; leaves more 
than 1.1 m long, 3.1 cm wide, subcoriaceous, 
at midsection with 39 secondary veins in each 
half, gradually long tapering towards the apex, 
(the tip missing in ours), channeled above the 
midrib, the margins reflexing, the base am- 
plexicaul and entire, but beginning 5-7 cm 
up the margins with pale prickles 2-2.5 mm 
long, 5-9 mm apart, subulate, ascending; the 
midrib below unarmed for 15 cm, then with 
reflexed prickles 0.5-1 mm long, 15-18 mm 
apart, subulate; at midsection the margins with 
prickles 0. 8-0.9 mm long, 7-10 mm apart, su- 
bulate, ascending; the midrib below with similar 
appressed ascending prickles 0.3-0. 5 mm long, 
8-18 mm apart; towards the apex the margins 
and midrib below with serrations 0.2 mm long, 
5-15 mm apart; syncarp "with 15-18 carpels”; 
drupes 7. 5-8. 3 cm long, 4.9 cm wide, 3.7 cm 
thick, obovoid, 3 -sided, very light, the upper 
sides smooth, brown and shiny as if varnished 
and with many pale longitudinal cracks, 3- 
angled, upper l A free, lower half pale brown 
and with several sharp longitudinal ridges and 
