7 8 ANNALS OP THE KOTAL BOTAXIC G-AEDEN, CALOaTTA. [_D. Sepal.
all unurmed ; the flowering panicle about 15 cm. long with very few (4; partial
inflorescences ; the axial parts fugaciously rusty-furfuraceous ; the internode between
the first and second spathes very slender, somewhat flattened, 2 cm. long, 3 mm. broad ;
partial inflorescences about 6 cm. long with many branchlets; spikelets always very
short and very few flowered ; the lowest of each branchlet, the|llargeat, 12-13 mm.
long with 2-3 flowers on either side and with an additional 1-2 flowered branchlet
at its base ; their axis zig-zag sinuous, loosely and slightly furfuraceous and not
scabrid ; spathels bracteiform, amplectent, produced externally into a broadly triangular
and comparatively large limb of which the acute or acuminata and
hairy tip exceeds the rim of the involucre ; the latter cupular, truncate, usually
with two rather acute and hairy teeth on its posticous side and with a distinct
callus at its axilla. .Male Jlowers oblong, obtuse, with almost parallel sides, not yery
slender in proportion to their length [rj mm. long, 2-5 ram. broad); the calyx
snperficially 3-toothed ; the corolla twice as long as the calyx. Fruiting spadiz about
30 cm. long, divided into four partial inflorescences (_in one specimen^ erect or
lightly nodding, supported on a pedicel that is 3-5 cm. in length, flattened, 5 mm.
broad, with acute and spinulous edges ; the main axis rigid, glabrous, not swollen
at the nodes ; the secondary and tertiary spathes bracteiform, elongate-triaugular,
very acuminate ; partial inflorescences about 8 cm. long, carrying 5-6 spikelets only ;
the largest of these, the lowest, 4 cm. long, with four flowers on either side, their axis
angular, sinous ; spathels bractciform, amplectent, produced on one side into a triangular,
acute or acuminate p.nnt, which equals in length or even exceeds tlie
involucrophorum ; the latter slightly obconical, somewhat stiut, obsoîetely angular,
expanded at its apex into an asymmetric subcupular and unilaierally acute or
acuminate limb ; involucre cupular, truncate, entire, almost entirely
t h e involucrophorum ; areola of the neuter flower very distinct, slightly
and strongly callous. Fruiiing perianth not quite explanate or with the calyx
broadly obconical. Fruit ovoid-elliptical or subovoid, very suddenly and stoutly
beaked, 24-25 mm. long including the beak, 14-15 mm. broad; scales in 18
longitudinal series, tawny-brown with dark margioal line, not very shining,
channelled along the centre and with an exactly triangular, not produced tip. Seed
globular (not seen quite mature).
HABIIAT,—The Malayan Peninsula; on the Gunong Tambang Badak in the
district of Perak {Scortechini No. 436" in Herb Beccari). At Larut also in tho district
of Perük, between 900—1200 m. {Sir George Kinc/g collector No. 4133 in
Herb. Calcutt.). Malayan name " R o t a n g Sepal" (Scortechini.).
OBSERVATIONS.—¿í. Scpalis, cliaracteiized by its slender stem; the not very closelyset
leaflets, the flattish, bi-oonvex, moderately long petiole ; the shortly pedicellate,
Buperaxillary spadices, with few (only four) spathes, the outermost armed with very
slender and long spines, and prolonged into a beak of not more than one-third of
its entire length ; and by the obovoid-elliptical fruit, suddenly and stoutly beaked,
with tawny scales arranged in 18 longitudinal series and having an exactly triangular
point. The fruit in Scortechin's N'o. 436'' (that described above) is not
quite mature, but apparently has attained its full size. The fruit therefore
much smaller than that of D. imhellis and with smaller and more numerous
D. pseudo-sepal.'] BECCARI. THE SPECIES OF DAEMO-VOSOPS. ?9
scales than in the latter. D. Sepal, D. Scortechini and D. imhellis, as proposed by
me, appear very closely related species which require more complete material to judge
of their real specific value.
Ridley (Mat. ii, 174} has reduced my D. Sepal to D. angusHfolius Mart.; I do
not know on wliat grounds.
PLATE 24.—Daemonorops Sepal Bece. From Scortechini's specimen No. 43t'' in
Herb. Beccari.
21. DAEMONOROPS PSEDDO-SBPAL Becc. in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi, 465, and in
Bee. Bot. Surv. Ind. ii, 220; Ridley, Mat. Fl. Malay. Penins. ii, ISO.
DESCEIPTION.—Scandent, 3-5 m. high and rather slender. Sheathed skm 13-17
mm in diameter. Le'if-sheaths racher elongate, fugaciously furfuraceous and ultimately
with an almost polished surface, obscurely costulate longitudinally, or with some
slightly raised longitudinal ridges, armed not densely with very unequal, sometimes
very long (•'^-5 cm.), flat, very elastic, more or less confluent and rather remotely
seriate sehistacous spines; the mouth almost naked. Leaves of the upper and fertile
part oí the plant apparently about 1 m. long in the pinniferous part; petiole elongate,
(H5-18 cm. in length), 8-10 mm. in width, depressedly plano-convex at the base,
flattened sub-biconvex above; tho margins acute and with short, straight, scattered
(sometimes confluent and divergent) spines except at the base, where they are longer
-and more approximate; smooth on the upper surface and also on the lower along
the centre or only ifery sparingly clawed there towards its apex; rachis with small
and solitary claws along the centre line of the lower surface (the terminal part not
seen by me), quite smooth on the upper with the usual salient angle. Leafleta
comparatively verv numerous, equidistunt, and rather remotely set (3-5 cm. apart);
thinly papyraceous, green oa both surfaces, linear-ensiform, 35 cm. in length, 14-16
mm. in width, with the mid-costa acute, not or very slightly bristly only near its
apex and with one slender nerre on each side of it carrying very few, short bristles
from the middle upwards; on the lower surface the mid-costa alone sparingly, interruptedly
and finely bristly-spinulous; transverse veinleta minute, not very distinct;
margins minutely and appressedly spinulous only from the middle upwards. Male
spadtx • . • Female spadix inserted near the mouth of its sheath and consequently
very far above the astilla of the leaf immediately under it, short, 1 ¿-15 cm. long
without the spathes), erect even when in fruit, supported by a short (10-15 mm.
long) and rather stout (7 m. broad), flattened, prickly, basal part, with very few
(3-4) very slightly branched and very few-flowered partial inflorescences, the spikelets
being reduced to carrying only 2-4 flowers; the main axis rigid and comparatively
thick- the internode between the insertioa of the first and second spathe about 2
cm. long, 7 mm. wide, slightly flattened; secondary and tertiary spathes bracteiform,
eVmgate-triangular, acuminate; spathels bracteiform, amplectent, produced at one
side iuto a triangular, acute or acuminate limb; involucrophorum short and thick,
sub-obconical, callous at its axilla, expanded at its apex into an asymmetrically
subcupular and unilaterally acute limb; involucüe cupular, truncate, entire, almost
completely immersed in the involucrophorum; areola of the neuter flower distinctly