4-2 INTRODUCTOBT ESSAY.
x x r i l . — o n the classification of the species 0/ Calaimis.
1 must admit t)mt I consider the systematic arrangement o! Coin™« proposed by
me to be far from satisiactory; t i e spocies are, ho-weyer, aggregated in groups whose
affinities are in most eases real and not artificial.
The order in which the groups succeed each other is not mmeriate; that is to say,
it must not be supposed that a group is directly derived from the one which precede»
it The whole series of species of Cdmui in my arrangement lays no claim to represent
a true phylogenetic conspectus; indeed, I believe sacli a classification to be m
reality as impossible for the genus Cahmm as it is for almost any other group of
organisms.
I have no belief in the formation of the species of which a genus is composed
by a gradual and successive modification from a single primitive archetype. I believe
therefore that it would be impossible to compile a complete phylogenetic system ot
existing organisms even if wo could actually esainine all the transitory forms of each
genus which may have existed, but have now disappeared.
My hypothesis is that in the remote epoch which I have called " Plasmatical,"
reproduction may have been possible oven between two organisms of very diverse
nature.* I therefore assume that a few primitive dissimilar types may have been
capable of producing fertile offspring, participating in the characters of theii- parents,
and 1 do not think the manifestation of this phenomenon impossible at that remote
epoch if it be assumed that the power of heredity, or of that force which causes the
•transmission to their oUspring of the universal qualities acquired by their parents, was
constantly more active the further back we go in tho history of the development of the
organic world; while tho "plasmatical force," or that which has given to organisms
the faculty of assuming new forms or colours more fitted to changed conditions of
existenco, very powerful in remote geological times, has been constantly less active
the more we advance towards the present era. In other words, I suppose that m
the remote past fertile hybridism may have occurred between diflerent species of the
samo genus, between representatives of different genera and, in the very earUest times,
even between organisms of a nature so different that now we should consider that they
belonged to difierent families. According to this theory the connecting links between
two species would not have been the result ot innumerable forms gradually appearmg by
eonlinuous slight variations, bat would be duo to the sadden intervention of hybridism.
In my systematic arrangement of the species of Calamu, I have tried to aggregate
the soecies in groups in accordance with their natural affinities, but I have not been
alway"» able to effect my purpose, partly because in some species the affinities are not
very clear, partly bccause our knowledge of some species is defective.
n we attempt to establish the chief divisions ot the genus upon the move conspicuous
biological characters presented by its constituent species, as for example
on whether the leaves are famished with, er are destitute ot, a cirrus; whether the leaisheaths
are flagcllifeions or not; whether the seed has a ruminate or an equable
albumen- it very often is found that wo are separating widely certain species that m
other respects are manifestly closely allied. For instance C. a-ecius is evidently related
• Beocati , Nelle Foreste di Borneo, p. 300.
DIAGNOSTIC CHABACTEES. 4 Î
to C Flamlhm, though it has an erect uon-scandent stem with non-fiagelliferous leafsheaths,
while C. tbgdlum is a lofty climbor, provided with very long clawed flagella.
Even in the formation of the groups I have found it almost impossible to
assign to each division constant and precise characters as it almost always happens
that some of the species exhibit aberrant peculiarities.
With reference to tho specific value ot the new forms proposed b y mo I may
observe that I have iollowe a middle course, neither differentiating the species
excessively nor amalgamating them too boldly. I admit that all of the species 1
have' proposed as new are not of equal value; this, however, is an aim that is
impossible of attainment, so many and varied aro the natural gradations between specific
entities. For example C. Miaiianm, 0. namiariemk and V. iiiermis are three very
closely ' related species which some botanists might perhaps consider to bo diflerent
• - ' fe^ver differences among themselves
forms of one. They certainly exhibit far „ .
than
occur for instance between C. ertclus and C. Fb)dltm. This unequal degree ot
diflerentiation exists, however, in every generic group of the organic
world, and is one of the capital difficulties encountered by the systematic naturalist
in dealing with tho fauna and flora of every country.
Among the diagnostic obaracters for the groups it sometimes happens that
characters are mentioned of which it is impossible to verify the presence in individual
species owing to the incompleteness of tho available material; this deficiency,
however, is almost always made up tor by the correlation of characters, whereby we
may, from the parts that are actually before us, deduce the nature ot those that
are missing. For instance, if we have a spadis which ends in a long robust clawed
ilagolbm, wo know for certain that the leaf rachis is not prolonged into a similarly
clawed cirrus; if the leaf sheaths be flagelliferous, we know the leaves are not
ciniferous and, on the contrary, if the leaves have a distinct clawed prolongation
at their apex, the leaf sheaths are not flagelliferous and the spadices in all probability
are panicled, comparatively short and broad, and devoid of a long terminal
prolongation.
It has not seemed advisable to add to the conspectus of the species an artificial
which would not onl key y have been very difficult to compile but very difficult
possess of many of the
of the material usually
to employ, owing to the imperieet knowledge that
species and on account of the universal inoompleter
collected or present in Herbaria.
Moreover, tho species of CaUmus being usually very localized, or found within
very limited' geographical areas, and the number of species of each region being
comparatively limited, a study of the geographical conspectus, with the assistance of
the chief subdivisions and their diagnoses, and, above all, of the plates, should I think
tender the identification of a Cakimm a matter devoid of serious difficulty.
X X ¥ I I l . - I > i a i j n o s t i c charaetcrs of the General Calamus and Daemonorops,
There is no precise and easily grasped diagnostic character which enables us to
distinguish at once a C„latm from a Batmomrops. Nevertheless these two genera
are so completely distinct by such an assemblage of characters that one is never
uncertain as to i h i c h of the two a particular Palm belongs.
ANN. EOT. BOT. GARD. CALCUTTA VOL, X I .