INTRODUCTION.
a r e oaly a repetition of those foaad at the axils at the inaertions of all the
branches and branchlets of this species, and in other apocies as well. In these
axillary callosities it is easy, by means of Trommer's reagent (a solution of copper
sulphate, copper and potassium hydrate) to discover in many cells of theii- substance,
©veo when in a dried-up condition, the characteristic brick-red colouring of cuprous
oxide. It seems therefore possible that, in certain palms, these callosities really act
as nectaries, or at least as lures and baits for ants or other insects; while lu the
greater number of other species such a function is purely rudimentary. 1 have been
able to recognize with absolute certainty the existence of true floral nectaries in the
flowers of Ooaos capUHa, and ia its allied species. It is, moreover, a well-known fact
t h a t the flowers of various kinds of palms, by their saccharine substances, do attract
insects eager to feast on thoir sweetness. Among these insects are Cetouiides and
Rhyncophora, and this fact in itself suffices to lead us to .suppose the e^isteDCe of
a biological connection between such insects and the flowers of palms.
I t would not therefore surprise me, if the flowers of certain Daemonorops (as
of some Calami) were found to be more frequently nectariferous than is at present
believed. I have however, as a fact, noticed true floral nectaries only in the flowers
of D. ' verticillaris, and to a smaller degree in D. longipes, both of which species
ftre of, all the Daemonorops and this is a coincidence well worth remembering
t h e best provided witli an apparatus capable of rendering service to and receiving
service from ams, as I propose to explain more fully further on.
The organs which, in the two species just mentioned, seem to me to be real
nectai-ies consist of six fleshy, round, very small bodies, that alternate in the male
flowers U h the stamens in the throat of the corolla (PI. II, f. 7, ff). In addition,
t h e infundibular part of the corolla of the same flowers below the throat, that is,
below the point of insertion of the stamens and of the afore-mentionod small
bodies, appears to be nectariferous.
XI.—3iynnecop Jiilism.
The inflated spatbes of Daemonorops of the division Cpnhospatha tiave rather the
appearance of organs intended for the reception of a n t s ; though I must acknowledge
as a fact that I have never perceived that they formed a permanent dwelling for
these insects perhaps because they are deciduous; yet almost aU the Ci/mbospatha
species are provided, at the axils of the involucres of the male flowers and in those
of the involucrophorum of the female flowers, with a callous swelling, in appearance
nectariform which may indicate the existence of a biological connection between ants
and this peculiar form of spathe. Also a peculiarly prominent callous and nectariform
swelling is to bo seen in the areola of the neutral flower of the greater number of
t h e species belonging to the before-mentioned group around the point of nisertion of
t h e flower (PI I f- 7 d)-, indeed very few of the Ci/mhspathae are without this
tumescence, which may perhaps be regarded as an organ of the nature of a bait
or lure, a c t i n - as such occasionally in some species, while in others it is simply representative.
The semi-circular nectariform swelling around the areola of the neutral
L w e r is exceedingly developed in D. mclanochaetes, D. Piorrcanus, D. ffrandts, D.
Kurzianm, D. anguMfoUus, D. irichrous, D. calicarpws, D. Sepal, etc.
MYHMECOPHILISII. 11
Myrmecophilism is far more accentuated in Daemonorops than in Calamus, and it
is particularly easy of vérification in D. vertioillans, D. miraUlis and related species,
also in D. furmicerius.
I n the species of the group Cymbospatha, the spathes, as haa been already said,
would appear to have been specially modified to enable them to shelter ants,
though I have never ascertained, as a positive fact, that these insects make use of
these organs as a permanent residence. Nevertheless all the species belonpring to this
gi'oup are more or less favourites with ants, which very often accumulate small
fragments of heterogeneous substances for building nests among the spines of the
leuf-sheaths.
The biological connection between ants and the Daemonorops is very evident
in D. miraUlis, in which species the leaf-sheaths are furnished all round with several
completely closed circular galleries which are formed of pairs of membranous rings
or collaj's, which are curved over in opposite directions, i.e., in each pair one collar
points upwards, the other downwards. The collars are also fringed with long
slender spines, which completely close in the galleries in question. The ants, therefore,
to get into these ready-made habifations, which are the result of so wonderful
a transformation of the spines, are compelled to make an entrance for themselves,
which they obtain by gnawing through the tissue of the membranous ring at some
convenient point, in a way precisely similar to that in which the same insects
pierce the ventricose ocrea of certain species of Korthahia.
Galleries very similar to those of D. mirabilis are found in D. vertiaillaris and
others of the same group ; these are however less completely closed, and in these
the ants contrive to make their abode by closiug the interstices between the spines
of the collars with small fragmenta of rubbish, always taking care to leave a -way
of access into the interior. But D. verlioillaris has in addition to these antharbouving
galleries and nectariform tumefactions at each ramification of the
spadices and at the axils of the spikelets, special nectaries in the male flowers, as I
have already mentioned, a state of things which would induce a suspicion that this
particular species has biological relations with other insects as well as with ants. We
are as yet but imperfectly acquainted with the Daemonorops belonging to the group
of D. miraUlis; of very few have the flowers and fruits been thoroughly studied)
yet it is certain that, in the species of this group, well-marked instances of mutual
relations between them and ants are found to exist.
X I I . —Use» of the Daemonorops.
T h e usefulness of Daemonorops is very n e a r l y equal to that of the Calami, though
the economic value of the latter is somewhat superior; but precise information in this
respect is wanting, both Calamus and Daemonorops being classed together in
commercial language under the common name of " rattan canes." Some Daemonorops in
Borneo have stems of e x t r a o r d i r a r y toughness, e.^,, D. oxycarpus (" E o t a n g M i g r a c " of
the Malays), but they lack a fine polished surface, and are therefore not sought after
ANN. EOY. BÛT. GARD., CALCUTTA, YOL. X I I .