Palms of British Guiana. 231 
The stem in the older and higher plants is 
entirely free from trash ; but in younger examples the 
sides of the sheathing parts of the leaf-stalk 
(often very persistent) carry a good deal of stiff bristle- 
like, black trash, in some plants clothing almost the whole 
length of the stem. The stem itself, according to 
JENMAN, is ' strictly cylindrical ;' though my own impres- 
sion, based on the measurements given below, is that it 
diminishes in diameter from the base to top. The 
sheathes of the leaf-stalk only clasp the stem for a short 
distance above their point of lowest attachment, and not 
throughout the length of the sheath as in our two species 
of Euterpe. The spathe is narrow and long ; soon after 
bursting it breaks off from the stem, in a straight line 
of fracture, and falls ; whereas in both species of Euterpe 
the spathe persists for some time after bursting. " The 
whole plant" I find in a note by Mr. JENMAN, " is con- 
spicuous and readily recognized at a distance by the 
peculiar coloured, reddish-brown tomentum coating the 
spathes." It flowers chiefly in October, though a few 
plants may be found in flower probably at any time of the 
year. 
Measurements. — Height of aerial roots I ft. 3 inch. : from top of 
aerial roots to base of leaf-stalk=38 ft. 10 inch. Girth of aerial rootf 
at ground=7 ft. : of trunk above aerial roots=2 ft. 10 inch. : of trunk at 
two feet above aerial roots=i ft. such: of trunk just below leaf-sheath = 
1 ft. 7 inch. Greatest girth of trunk formed by the sheathing of the 
leaf-stalks=4 ft. 3 inch. Length of leaf from base of sheath to top = 25 
ft. : from same base to lowest pinnse=7 ft. 7 inch. : greatest width of 
leaf 5 ft. 6 inch. 
This plant is distributed somewhat sparingly along the 
bank of the Corentyn and in swamps at some distance 
back from that river, and also in similar places on the 
