74- A N N A L S OF T H E B O Y A L B O T A N I C GARDEN, CALCUTTA, [D. intermedius.
cymbiform, its beak about as long as the body or somewhat shorter, armed
externally with numerous, narrowly laminai-, very acuminate, flexible, sometimes
scattered but more frequently confluent, interruptedly seriate or subpectiuate or
even laciniate, 2-4 cm. long spines : those at the base of the beak occasionally
very long. Male spadix with 5-6 partial inflorescences ; the internode between
the insertion of the first and second spathe rather slender, somewhat flattened, about
2 cm. long and forming a distinct peduncular part to the flowering axis ; partial
inflorescences ovate-thyrsoid with 12-14 very appvessed branchlets ; each of these
carrying on each aide 7-8 spikelets ; second spathe rather densely, third and sometimes
fourth spathe sparingly, spinous ; spikelets short and few-flowered, the largest, the
lowest of each partial infloresence, 2 cm. long, with three flowers (rarely mare)
on each side or sometimes on one side only ; the axis of the spikelets not very
strongly zig-zag sinuous, slightly scabrid and fugaciously and not densely rustyfurfuraceous
; spathels bracteiform, amplectent, extended at one side into a broadly
triangular acute point that reaches the margin of the involucre ; the latter cupular
or cupular-subcymbiform, being often slightly elongate transverseiiy and acute at
each side. Mah flowers oblong obtuse, wheu mature 7 mm. long, 2'5 mm.
thick J the calyx tubulav-campauulate with three short broad teeth ; the corolla twice
as long as the calyx. Female spadix 10-18 cm. long (when without the suathes)
with 5 partial inflorescences which are composed of 7-8 spikelets ; the largest of
these, the lowest, 4-5 cm. long with 4-5 flowers on each side ; the space between
two flowers angular, ;}-4 mm. long and during the flowering stage rather densely
rusty-furfuraceous, later slightly papillose scabrid ; spathels bracteiform, amplectent.
extended at one side into a broadly triangular, acute limb which is slightly
shorter than the involucrophorum ; the latter shortly obcouic, distinctly callous at its
axilla, expanded at its apex into an obliquely subcupular limb, which at one of its
sides subtends the neuter flower ; involucre cupular, exactly truncate, entire, slightly
protruding beyond the involucrophorum ; areola of the neuter flower depressed
with its upper margin distinctly tumescent. Female flowers ovate, 6 mm. loug ; the
calyx urceolate, obsoletely 3-dentate, strongly striately-veined j the corolla somewhat
less than twice as long as the calyx, its segments triangular-lanceolate, acute, con.
nivent during the anthesis, with the stigmas revolute between them. Fruiting perianth
quite explanate. Fruit spherical, very shortly and acutely conically beaked, 17-18
mm. in diameter ; scales in 15-17 longitudinal series, straw-yellowish, not very
polished,'slightly channelled along the centre, with a chestnut-brown marginal or
intramarginal line, as sometimes the margin itself is discoloured and scarious, tip
not produced, obtuse. Seed irregularly globular, somewhat ventricose on the raphal
side, 15 mm. in diameter ; embryo basal.
HABITAT.—The Malayan Peninsula. Sent to Griffith from Malacca under the
Malayan name of " Rotang Chrysa " by its collector E. Fernandez. Found again by
Scorteehini in the district of Perak (No. 505 in Herb. Beccari) and by Sir George
King's coUeeior on Gunong Malacca, between 490—600 m. (No. 7135 in Herb.
Calcutt.).
OBSERVATIONS.—Of GrifSth'
in the Herbarium at Kew and
I some portions of a leaf
tne rieroariuiu »u OLI« a portion of a leaf with one of the outermost spathea
in the Calcutta Herbarium. Some of Scortechini's specimens exactly agree with
D. Treubianus.'] B E C C A R I . T H E S P E C I E S OP D A E M O N O E O P S .. 75
•Griflith's; others are slightly different, as D. intermedius appears to be rather a
variable plant, especially in the armature of the outer spathe. One of Scortechini's
specimens has the sheathed stem only 2 cui. in diameter and is armed with lightcoloured
spines, while in the type those are usually schistaceous, and the outer
spathe is armed with deeply laciniate laminar spines. In other specimens the
spines of the outer spathe are scattered and not seriate.
O. intermedins is easily recognised chiefly by its ensiform, comparatively broad,
unicostate, remotely inserted leaflets, which also are dull on both surfaces, with
a distinct polished band along their lower margins on the upper surface, and by
the spadices which have the second, third and sometimes the fourth spathe spinou^.
My description of the female spadix and of the fruit is derived entirely from specimens
collected by Ridley in Singapore, although I consider these as belonging to
a local variety, differing very slightly, however, from the type.
Ridley has confused this very distinct species with D. grandis Mart., which is a
quite different plant with rigid, rather thinly coriaceous leaflets.
D. intermedius according to Ridley is the commonest species in the south of
the peninsula in the woods. Native name " Rotang Sumang ". It is not valued for
any purpose.
PLATE 20.-Daemonorops intermedius Mart. From Scortechini's specimens in
Herb. Beccari.
DAEMONOROPS INTERMEDIOS var. NUDINERVIS Becc. in Rec. Bot Surv Ind
the
ii, 220.
DsscRiPTioN.-It differs from the type in the leaflets usually without bristles on
both surfaces and with the margins remotely and inconspicously spinulous only from
ubove the middle upwards; sometimes, however, a few small bristles appear on the
side nerves on the upper surface and on the mid-costa on the lower, and
margins aie spinulous from a little above the base. In one specimen the
are unusually broad, bemg as much as i cm. in width, and 40 cm. long.
HABITAT.-Singapore: in the Gai-den jungle {Ridleg No. 5124, 5122 in Herb
Beccari and Nos. 6172 and 3499 in Herb. Kew.); at SeUtar (No. 350(5 in Herb'
Beccari).
PLATE 21.—Daemonorops intermedins VAR. nudinervis. From Ridley's No. 5123
•in Herb. Beccari. Apex of a leaf aud male -- -'••
PLATE 22.—Daemouorops intermedius VAH. nudinervis. flower, with
young and quite mature fruit. From Ridley's No. 3506.
19. DAEMONOROPS TREITBIANOS Becc. sp. n.
DESCRIPTION.—Scandent, of moderate size. Sheathed stem 2-5 cm. in diameter, more
or less covered with a tobacco-coloured scurf, armed with long, broadly laminar,
subseriate, non-confluent, spreading or deflexed spines, intermingled with much smaller
and erect ones; near the mouth the spines are longer (up to 4 cm. in length; and
ANN. ROY. BOT, GARD. CALCUTTA VOL. X I I .