128 OF THE KOTAL BOTANIC G-AKDLIN, C.VXCUTTA. [Q. FLAGELLUM
asymmetrically infiindibuliform with truncate and discoloured Bubscarious margin, moro
or less produced at one side into a split and laccratud tip; involucre cupular,
truncate, shorter than its own spathel and laterally adnate at the base of tho one
%boTe. Male pwers elongate, acute, 8 - U mm. long, 3 mm. broad, outwardly curved,
half-projecting from the spathel; calyx divided down almost to the middle into 3
lobes; corolla not quite twice as long as the calyx, almost entii'ely divided into 3
lanceolate, acute segments; stamens with subulate filaments not inflected at the apex
and united at the bise with tho corolla; anthers large, broadly linear, attached to
the middle; rudiment oí the pistil formed of .3 small acicular bodies. Female spadix
very nearly the same as the male; partial inflorescences very few (5-6 at mostj;
spikelets very remote, elongate [20-35 cm. long), subcyliridrical, vermicular, curved
downwards, inserted near the mouth of their respective spathes; spathels iniundibuliform,
rather elongate with the margin truncate and withered, produced on one side into a
triangular and lacerated point; involucrophoruni unilaterally eupulnr, truncate, nearly
exserted from its own spathel and attached at the base of the one above; involucre
cupular, truncate, almost entirely immersed in tho involucrophorum; areola of the
neuter flower distinctly lunate. Fei)ia'e flowers conical-ovoid anute, relatively large
(about 7 mm. long); calyx ovate, very shortly 3-dentate; petals lanceolate, acute, a
little longer than the calyx ; stamens with triangular, subulate filaments highly conuate
at the base; anthers sagittate, blunt; ovary ovate, crowned by the trigonous stigmas.
Neuter flowrs narrower^than the female ones, but nearly as long, soon deciduous.
Fj-uiting perianth explanóte {not pedicelliform); its calyx completely split; its
corolla marcescent. Fruit large, when perfectly ripe about 3 cm. long by 20-22
mm, in width, broadly ovoid, rounded at the base, abruptly and shortly beaked;
scales very large, in 12 longitudinal series, channelled along the middle, of a dirty
straw colour with a dark intramarginal line, lighter finely ©rose margins and
obtuse apex. Seed regularly ovoid, rounded at the base, slightly narrowing towards
the obtaise apex, circular in section, 20-22 mm. long and 13-15 mm. in diam.,
covered with a dry (at first fleshy) adherent coat, and minutely pitted on the surface
beneath the coat; chalazal fovea very superfieiiil and indistinct; albumen deeply
ruminate; embrj'O 3-4 mm. long, basilar.
HABITAT—N. E. India. The type specimens, which I have seen in the
Herbai-ium at Kew, were gathered by Major Jenkins at Golaghat on the Iliver
Dhunseeri in Assam. It grows also on the Kl.a>ia Hilla at Churra {Ho'^ker f .
^ Thomson in Herb. Kew), in Cachar in the Daarbund pass and at Sh«pove {Keenan
in Herb. Kew^; in Eastern Bengal on the Soorma Ilook^-r f . ^ Thmson in Herb.
Kew); in Sikkim, where according to Anderson it is by far tlie commonest Cahmm,
from the level of the plains as high as Kursnong (1370 m.); amongst the
Podooarpus {llooker / . Thomion in Herb. Kew); Dulka-Jahr
The canes, though very long (this Palm reaching to the top of tho highest
trees), are soft and useless (Anderson). It receives the vernacular names (according
to Gamble) of " Rabi Bet'' by the Nepalese, of " Reem" by the Lepchaa, aud
of "Nagagola Bet" in Assam. The fruit is edible {Hooker /.).
OBSEKVATIONS.—Griffith has given a long and accurate di-acription of the male
plant of this species of which I have examined the original specimens
Herbarium at Kew.
. the
C. Flagellum] BECCAEI. MOMOGEAL'JI OP THE GENUS CALAMUS. 129
Tiie fruit represented in fig. I l l of plate CLXXXVI A in the work of Griffith
with the name of C. Jcnlinsianits is that of C. Flagelluvi, as may be proved by the
fig. IX, plate 176, of Martins Hist. Nat, Palm, where the same fruit bears its
true name.
0. Flageltum is very closely allied to C. crcctus by the structure of the flowers
and seeds, but it is easily distinguished by the scandent stem, the flsgelliferous
leaf-sheaths and very elongate flagelliferous spadices (which are strongly armed in
the iinsheatlied axial portions with half-whorls of stout claws) and the partial
very remote inflorescences. Furthermore, tho leaf-rachis is not armed on the back with
straight long spines, but is clawed throughout to the extreme apex. The seed is
very similar to that of C. erecius in size, shape and rumination. 0. Flagellum niay
be considered to be C. erecius transformed into a climbing plant.
A very large specimen from a plant cultivated in the Botanic Garden at
Buitenzorg has the sheathed stem 5 cm. in diam.; the petioles 2 cm. thick;
the leaf-sheaths, petiole, rachis and spadix covered witli a grey fuscescent fugacious
scurf. An entire leaf is 2 m. long, the largest leaflets measure 60 cm. by 4 cm.
Tho male spadix is simply decompound or in large specimens furnished with some
additional spikelets in the lower partial iuflorescecces. One spadix I measured
was 3-5 m. in length and terminated by a very formidably armfd flagellum
which was as long; partial inflorescences very few (only 2-3), 40-70 cm. apart
-with few (3-6) spikelets on each side and ending in a spikelet longer than the sido
ones, which are 10-20 cm. long. Of the female plant I have received from Lieut.-Col.
Prain an entire upper portion collected in Sikkim and bearing very unripe fruits,
which are 3 cm. long, narrowing into a conical beak with small connivent stigmas.
PLATE 4.—Calamus Flagellum Griff. Portion of the upper pai-t of a leaf seen
from the lower surface, and terminal part of a male spadix from tho alreadymentioned
plant cultivated at Buitenzorg.
PLATE 5.—Calamus Flagellum Grif. Basal portion of a leaf from the cultivated
male plant mentioned above; basal portion of a female spadix in flower with an
entire partial inflorescence from Assam (Herb, do Cand.); spikelet with immature
fruit from Sikkim (Herb. Becc.).
CALAMUS FLAGELLUM Griff, var. KARINENSIS Beec.
DKSCiiiPTioN.—Large and scandent. Sheaihed stem 5 cm. in diam. Leaf-sheaths
flagelliferous, slightly puckered above, densely armed with dark, very acuminate, laminar
spines which are light at the base, darkening towards the apex, 4-6 cm. long,
usually deflexed, solitary or confluent and forming interrupted series, and intermingled
with innumerable criniEorm prickles disposed in crowded transversely iiTeguIar series.
Oerea in full-grown leaves inconspicuous. Leaves large, not cii-riferous (only one seen
and perhaps not of the upper part of an adult plant), about 2-5 m. long; petiole very
stout, 2-3 cm. thick, rather short (20-25 cm. long), broadly chanelled above,
rounded baneath, where, as in the first portion of the rachis, it is regularly a m c d at
the sideii and along the middle with straight laminar spines; in the middle portion the
rachis is fiattish or slightly concave above, with the side-angles acute and spinulose and
with broad side-faces, where are inserted the leaflets; upwards towards the apex the
ANN. EOY. BOT. QABD, OALCOTTA TOL. XL