48 ANNALS OP THE EOTAL BOTA>'ic GARDEN. CALCUTTA. ]_D. melanochaetes.
HABITAT.—The typical form of D. melanochaetes must be considered the one
growing in the west part of Java, where it receives the names of " Rotang Selang,"
" Hoo Selan, Sellarg o Seel." Apparently it does not differ from the type, one
epecimen in the Paris Herbarium, with an iucomplete male spadix, which waa
collected by Hombron duting the voyage of the French corvettes " L'Astrolabe " and
" L a Z é l é e " at Tanjong Selatan in the south-east end of Borneo, They may be considered
as belonging to peculiar varieties of this species, some specimens coming from
Sumatra and probably also from Bangka. In Java itself the species seems extreiixely
polymorphic, judging at least from the numerous specimens I have received from
Dr. Treub, that were cultivated in the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg.
OBSERVATIONS.—I have given a very comprahenaive description of this species as
it is extremely variable. The typical forms are distinguishable from the allied
species chiefly by the outer spathe being densely covered with innumerable, very slender»
long, setifonn or sub-bristly, often partially discoloured, not seriate spines; in some
specimens however these spines have a tendency to broaden, and to lose their
setiform appearance.
We may consider as belonging to the " f o r m a t y p i c a " those plants that are of
moderate size with the spadices not extraordinarily large, of which the outer spathe
is densely clothed with snbcriniform spines, have a spherical; fruit 18-20 mm.
n diameter, and the segments not or veiy scantily bristly-spinulous on the mid-costa
beneath, and with the margins appressedly bristly-spinulous.
PLATE 3.—Daemon orops melanocboetes Bl. A spadix not yet open on the left
hand side ; fruiting spadix ; intermediate portion of a leaf ; portion of a leaf-sheath
with the base of the petiole. From a plant cultivated at Buitenzorg in Herb. Beccaii.
The following principal varieties may be distinguished :—
DAEMONOROPS MI5LAN0CHAETES var. MlCROCAiiPus Teijsm. et Binn, Cat. Hort. Bogor.
7 4 ; Becc. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. ii, 219.
DBSCRIPTIOS.—Smaller. Sheaihed sien 2'o cm. in diameter. Jjcaf-shecths lightly
and partially covered with a thin dark furfuraceous scurf. Leaves about 2 m. long
in the pinniferous p a r t ; their rachis smooth or slightly spinulous on its upper angle ;
leaflets 30-40 cm. long, 15-18 mm. broad, naked or very sparingly bristly on the
mid-costa beneath, the margins sometimes sub-spreadingly ciliate-spinulous; spadices
before flowering 10-30 cm. long in the ventricose part, the beak about as long
as the body. Fruit apparently smaller than in type, but not seen by me.
HABITAT.—I have received this variety from the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg,
where it is cultivated under the name mentioned above. Very probably it is
indigenous in Java. Another specimen, which I refer to the same variety, boars
the Javanesp name of " R o t a n g Sellaog kechil" or the small " R. Sellang."
.D. me\anoohaet<2S.'\ BECCAEI, THE SPKCIES OF DAEMONOBOPS. 49
DAEMONOROPS MELANOCHAETES var. MACBOCYMBDS Becc. in E e c . Bot, Surv. Ind.
ii, 219.
DESCRIPTION .—Robust. Sheathed stem 5 em, in diameter. Leaves 3-3-4 m. long
(not including the cirrus); leaflets 50-60 cm. long, 3'5-3 cm, broad. Male spadix
with the outer spathe sometimes 80—90 cm, long and 10-12 cm. broad in the
ventricose part, very densely covered with innumerable long and very slender crinif
o rm spioos. The beak comparatively short, about one-third the length of the body.
HABITAT,—I know this form, which probably is indigenous to Java, only from
male specimens cultivated in the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg.
PLATE 4.—Daemonorops melanochaetes Bl. The two small spadices on the right side
of the plate are of the var. nicrocarpua; the other two figures are of the variety
macrocymbiig; that in the centre represents the upper portion of a male spadix
during the anthesis; the other the back of the outer spa:he. From plants cultivated
at Buitenzorg, in Herb. Beccari.
DAEMONOBOPS MELANOCHAETES var. PADANGENSIS Becc.
DESCRIPTION.-Rather robust. Leaf-sheaths armed with unequal spines, many of
•them with a large base and broadly laminar, interruptedly seriate and often laciniate.
Leaves 3 m. long in the pinniferous p a r t ; rachis strongly spinulous on its upper
a n g l e ; leaflet 30-45 cm, long, 15-20 mm. broad (the intermediate ones), with longlight
brown bristles on 3 nerves above; underneath the mid-costa very closely and
finely bristly; margins finely and closely ciliate with rather spreading sub-spinescent
hairs. Fmale spadix before flowering clothed, not very densely, with very narrowly
laminar or even sub-setiform seriate spines ; the beak about half as long as
t h e body. Involucre of the female flowers very shallow ; areola of the neuter
flower with a conspicuous semi-annular swollen callus on its upper side. Fruit
spherical, very shortly conically beaked, scales with a distinct dark-coloured marginal
line ; not very deeply channelled aloog the middle.
HABITAT.—I found this variety in August 1878 at Ayer JIanchor (360 metres
above the level of the sea) in the Province of Padang in West Sumatra.
OBSERVATIONS.—Though evidently specifically belonging to D. melanochaetes, this
i s readily distinguished from other varieties by the leaflets having the mid-costa
finely and closely baii-y-spinulous beneath and the margins spreadingly ciliate.
DAEMOHOEOPS MELANOCHAETES v a r . MACROCARPUS Becc. in Rec. Bot. S u r v . I n d ii, 219.
DESCRIP'IION.—Xefl/'-s/ieaif/is and spadices coated with a uniform, furfuraceous,
almost black indumentum. Leaflets distinctly bristly on 3 nerves above and on the
mid-costa beneath, Outer spathe rather densely armed with bristly spines, sometimes
slightly broader than in type. Fruit comparatively large, 2'5 cm. in length (not
including the beak) and 1-2 mm. less in breadth; scales very deeply channelled
along the centre.
HABITAT.—Collected by Forbes io 1881 at 1,500 metres elevation on Mount Dempo,
province of Bencoolen in Sumatra (No, 2326 in Herb, Calcutta).
ANN, ROT. BOT. GABD. ; CALCUTIA, TOL. X I I .