2 2 8 ANNALS O P T H E EOYAL B O T A N I C G A B D E N , CALCUTTA, [/). FURBINATUS
terminates iu a filaoient; they are firmly papyraceous, distinctly 3-costulate, on
the upper surface the side costae aro almost as strong as tbe mid-costa, all three are
veiy minutely yet sparingly spinulous ; on the lower surface the costae are not
prominent and these, like the other nerves, are quite smooth; transverse veinlets
gxtremcly numerous and approximate, very sharply and equally defined on both
surfaces ; the margina are very minutely spiiiulous, the lower margin is bordered on
the upper surface with a broad, polished, and glossy band; the largest leaflets are
the mediáis of the lowest group; they average 40 cm. in length and 3 cm. in
breadth. Male spadix . . . . Female spadix diffuse when in fruit, apparently
not very lai-ge, it has several partial inflorescences distichally inserted, and kept
horizontal by a conspicuous axillary callus ; primary spathes not seen by me ; the main
axis is rigid, covered with a iliin partially deciduous rustv-furfuraceous indumentum;
the intornodes are 5-7 cm. long, the lowermost sub terete, 6-8 cm. in diameter
the others very unevenly surfaced ; secondary spathes reduced to a narrow uniform
r i n g ; partial inflorescences 11-15 cm, long, their axis rigid, with short internodes
and 4-5 spikelets on each side ; tertiary spathes shortly annular, but produced
at one side into a very short acute point ; spikelets k e ^ horizontal by a
conspicuous axillary callus ; the lower of each inflorescence is 7-8 cm. long, and has
very few distant distichous flowers (4-5 on each side) ; the upper spikelets gradually
shorter, and with fewer flowers ; the axis of the spikelets is msty-furfuraceous,
sinuous, and acutely angular ; the spathels have a very short annular limb,
and are produced, at one side, into a broadly triangular acute point ; involucrophorum
very distinctly pedicelliform, 5-7 mm. long, spreading, with a conspicuous
axillary callus, acutely angular, subobpyramidate, broadening considerably towards its
upper end, which is edged by a very narrow rim ; involucre orbicular, flat, almost
on a level with the involucrophorum, and edged by an extremely narrow rim; areola
of the neuter flower inconspicuous, pit-like. Fruiiing perianth obconical, pedicelliform
with a very hard base ; the calyx is cyathiform with a flat hard base,
rusty-furfuraceous, obsoletely veined, broadly 3-toothed ; the corolla is more than
twice as long as the cal)'x, the segments triangular, acuminate ; from the perianth
I estimate the female flowers about 6 mm. long. Fruit distinctly turbinate from
a regularly round, or slightly depressed top, which is crowned by the remains of the
sessile stigmas : it tapers to an acute base, is 2 cm. long on the average and 15 mm.
broad; pericarp hard and not brittle; scales arranged in 15 longitudinal series, deeply
grooved along the centre, of an uniform hazel-nut colour, rather glossy, conspicuously
convex, with a re-entering obtuse point. Seed (immature).
HABITAT.—N.-W. Dutch Borneo at Liang-gagang in the Residency of Sambas;
discovered by E. Eallier, 1893-94 (No. 3042 in Herb. Hort. Bot. Bogor.). Native
names " Rotan djelapang ". No. 2595 of the same collector is represented by sterile
specimens from young plants.
OBSERVATIONS.—It is a very fine species, which the uncommon form of its fruit
renders quite distinct. In all the other species of the group of D. mirabilis, of which
tbe fruit is known, this is spherioal ; but several species of that group are known
only from their vegetative organs,
•D. asteracantkus'] BECCAEI. THE SPECIES OP DAEMONOEOPS. 227
In the peculiarities of its leaf-sheaths D. turhinatus seems to approach D.
mirabilis more closely than other species ; but in the latter the paii-s of membranous
collars are more numerous and all are complete. From D. mirahiiis var. oligocydxs it
differs in the different arrangement of the leaflets which, itj that species, are more
distinctly grouped than in D. iurlinaius.
PLATE 106.—Daemonorops turbinatus Becc. Lower portion of a leaf; portion of
the sheathed stem ; longitudinal section of the upper part of a leaf-sheath, seen
from the inner side ; the fruiting spadix ahnost entire. From Hallier's No. 3042 in
Herb. Hort. Bot. Bogor.
I DAEUONOHOPS ASTERACANTHDS Becc, sp.
DESCRIPTION.-Scandent, slender. Sheathed stm about 15 mm. in diam. leafsheaths
slightly gibbous above, beautifully armed at almost regular intervals of about
1 cm. with complete circular rows of broad, almost lanceolate, very thinly laminar
spadiceous or blackish spines, with which are intermingled numerous very slender
spiculae; both spines and spiculae are deflexed and united by theii- bases to form
several narrow, horizontal rings all round the sheaths from which they radiate- the
largest spines are 1-2 cm. long and 1-2 mm. broad, frequently abruptly acuminate •
the} mouth of the leaf-sheath is densely armed with similar, but much longer,
and more gradually acuminate spines. Zeaves ciniferous, 40-50 cm. long in thé
piniiiferous part ; the petiole is elongate, 30-35 cm. long, 4-5 mm. broad ° slightly
flattened-biconvex, with rather sharp edges, which are rather closely armed with
straight, often S-oate-digitate spines; the lower spines are 10-15 mm. long, the
upper very short; the dorsum of the petiole is either smooth or armed'with
a few straight deflexed spines; the raohis becomes bifaced on the upper surface
and has an acute salient augle, starting from its base just where the lowest
leaflets are inserted: on the back it is armed throughout, rather closely and
at regular distances, with 3-nate claws; the cirrus is equally armed with témate
or, at time., quinate, claws; leaflets very distinctly approximate into 3-4 groups, which
are separated by_ vacant spaces 8-12 cm. long; the groups are formed by —4
leaflets on each side of the rachis, very approximate by their bases and inserted
at a very acute angle; the leaflets aro quite bare on both surfaces and on the
margius, are firmly papyraceous, somewhat plicate longitudinally, almost glossy on
both surfaces, more or less narrowly lanceolate, not very gradually but ahiiost
equally diimnishing towards both ends; their base is acute, the apex acuminate
and almost pungent, not, or very slightly biistly-spinulous ; the largest leaflets are
those of the intermediate groups, and are 12-18 cm. lon^, and 18-20 mm. broadthose
of the lowest group are somewhat narrower and at times longer, and those
of the uppermost group, which is reduced to only 2-^3 leaflets, are ° the smallest ;
the mid-costa is slender, very sharp on the upper surface; secondary nerves very
faint ; transverso veinlets not very conspicuous, translucid, moderately numerous.
Spadiz (seen only in a very young stage) apparently axillary, very slender,'
cylindraceous before flowering, borne on a rather short, slender, strongly flattened'
unarmed, peduncular part. Spathes all entirely unarmed, tubular, the one gradually
ANN. R o y . BOT. GARD., CALCUTTA, VOL. X I I .