212 A:ÍNALS OF T H E K O Y Í L B O T Í N I Ü GARDEN, CALCUTTA. \_D. rupti/is
Jast consists of a single spikelet 34 cm. in length ; secondary and tertiary spallies membranous,
exsuccous, cinnamon-brown in colour, shortly infundibular-amplectent, laterally
produced into a broadly triangular acuminate, lacerato limb ; the axes of th.j
pai-tial infiorescences have the iiiternodes short, thick, subterete or obaoletoly angular
and s'wollen at the nodes; spikelets spreading, very conspicuously callous and with a.
transverse rima at their axilla; they have a very short (1 cm. long) padieellar part,
are 15-18 cm. long, are thick and robuat and have many closely packed flowers;
the terminal spikolot (wliich ia 20 cm. long) has the flowers almost regularly bifariously
set; the otliers have usually the flowers disposed iu 4 series in their basal part,
and bifariously towards the apex; spathels large, spathaceous, BXSUCOOUS. more or less
split longitudinally and embracing their flowers which they exceed considerably
in length ; the invitlucrophorum has a very short rusty-furfuracei^us podicelhir p:irt and
suddenly expands into a broad asyiu metrically spathaceous aud at times, split,
obtuse limb ; involucre rather deeply and asymmetrically cupular, partially immersed
in the iiivolucrophorum ; the areola of the neuter flower is not sharply defined,
but has a rather large non-callous scar, which is hidden within a kind of small
cupula, formed by the shorter side of the limb of the iüvolucrophorum. Female
ßouiere comparatively large, b mm. long; the calyx it cyathiform-campanulate, truncate,
has 3 inconspicuous teeth, and later is irregularly split: callous at its base; the
corolla twice as long as the calyx, its segments ovate-lauceolate, gradu^illy narrowing
towards a rather obtuse point, very faintly striate longitudinally. Frui'., in
the very young stage, ovoid-oblong, tapering to a short and thick style, and crowned
with 3 large, thickly trigonous-subulate, internally lameliose, rocurved stigmas ; scales
in 15 longitudinal series, slightly grooved along the centre, yellowish or greenish,
and with a very obtuse or rounded point.
HABITAT.—Borneo; but the exact locality unknown; collected only by Low with
very immature fruit (Herb. Kew. and Calcutt.). Malay name "Rötung biluboli
ambuk."
OBSERVATIONS.—O. ruptilis is a very distinct species, related only to D. longispathus;
it is easily distinguishable by its robust spadix, with very large and thick spikelets;
by the large, spathaceous, lacerate secondary spathes and spathels, which are longer
than their respective flowers; and by the i.farious flowers, at least in the lower part
of the spikelets.
A specimen preserved at Kew collectcd also by Low in Borneo and distinguished
by the Malay name of R. tambyeaiigan" apparently belongs to D. rupiilis. This
specimen is represented by a male spadix with very young flowers, and by a portion
of a leaf, which in no way difiers from the corresponding part that accompanies
the female spadix described above. Of this male spadix I subjoin a description as
I consider it as almost certainly belonging to D. ruptUis :—It is 70 cm. long on the
whole, straight and rigid ; the peduncular part is very short, 12 mm. broad, flattened,
with the edges acute and armed with ascendent subulate spines; the partial
inflorescences are 4 in number, beside a few others very small at the summit ;
primarj- spathes coriaceous, elongate, all unarmed, the outermost with 2 dorsal keels
and gradually narrowing into a long point ; secondary spathes loosely infundibular,
membranous, not so large as in the female spadix ; pariial inflorescences slightly
213 D. ruptUis'} BUCCABI. THE SPECIES OF DAEMOHOBOPS.
branched; thi, lowest and at the same time the largest, has 7 spikelets in all- the
spikelets are about 6 cm. long, and have very approximate, perfectly bifarious flowers
and do not differ from (he spikelets of a typical Calamus of the group of C. palusim '
They have approximate and subcymbiform spathels, a regularly cupular involucre, and
have the flowers subtended by the point of their respective spathels. The flowers are
too young to be described precisely but apparently they are obtuse have a
campanulate or cyathiform finely . striately veined calyx and a corolla wilh smooth
and externally glossy segments. The leaflets are 35-40 cm. in length and 2-3 cm
ill width.
PLATE 9 7 . — D ae ? m on or ops •uptihs Becc. Intermediate portion of a leaf (under
sm-face); portion of the spadix with young fruits; one of the young fruits enlarged
4 dmeters: from the type snccimen in the Herharinm nf TTaw