180 AKNALS OF THE KOTAL BOTANIC GAEDEN, 04LCDTTA. [D. Forbesii
collar is another, turned upwards, formed almost entirely by the bases of black,
crinifoi-m bristles; the two opposite collars form a circular gallery, the abode of
a n t s ; below this pair of collars aie 1-3 others of the samf=) kiad but considerably
smaller, and then follow several, almost horizontal, complete, or in the lower part
of the sheath interrupted, circular rows of small criniform ascendent spiculae.
Leaves about 50 cm. long in the pinniferous part, and terminated by a
long cirrus; the petiolo alone is 23-25 em. loug, somewhat flattened-biconvex
with veiy obtuse edges that are rather remotely clawed; a few small chiws appear
also on the upper part of the dorsum along the centre; the upper surface of the
petiole is smooth; the rachis is slightly thicker in the portion corresponding to
t h e insertions of the groups of leaflets than elsewhere; on the upper surface it
is smooth and has a salient angle with flat side-faces; on the under-sm-face, it is
aimed lower down with solitary, rather robust claws, which become ternato higher
up and finally 5-nate on the very loug compiirativoiy terminal cirrus; leaflets very
f ew fin one specimen ouly 27 in all), approximate in uumber or 3-5 on each side
of the rachis and arranged in 3 distant (8-10 cm. apart) groups; ia each group the
leaflets are almost equidistant, and 10-15 mm. apart oa each side of the rachis,
are all in one plane and nearly equal in size, 15-20 cm. long, '20-27 mm.
b r o a d ; they are thinly papyraceous, green and concolorous on both surfaces,
narrowly lanceolate or elliptical-lauceolate, being broadest about the middle, and
thence tapering towards a rather acute base, while somewhat suddenly acuminate
to a bristly tip, which is rather couapicuously indented on the lower margin,
about 2 cm. below the apex; on the upper surface the mid-costa is slender but
v e r y sharp; usually it has a few bristly spiuules near the apex; the secondary
neiTes are many, one on each side of the mid-costa being a trifle stronger
t h a n the others, and occasionally carrying a few scattered spinules here and there;
on the under-snrface 5 very slender nerves are furnished, from the base to the
apex, with several black, short, spreading, rather conspicuous bristles; transverse
veinlets numerous and sharp on both surfaces; margins acute, finely, and near the
apex, spreadingly spinulous-ciliato. Male spadix.... Female spadix when in fruit
diffusedly panicled, nodding, about 50 cm. long (iu one specimen); its peduncular
p a r t is rather elongate (15 cm. long), somewhat flattened and with obtuse edges, of.
t h e uniform broadTJi of 5 mm. throughout, feebly armed with fascicles of spiculae
aud with a few small prickles; the axial parts are more or less covered T.-ith
a thin, fmrfutaceoufl, rusty-brown indumentum; the main axis is straight, rather
slender ; the two lowermost internodes are ¡subterete and slightly clavate, the others
obsoleteiy and irregularly angular; primary spathes deciduous (not seen by me);
pai'tial inflorescences 4-5 in number, spreading, and with a distinct axillary
callue, their axis angular, slightly sinuous; the largest are 10 cm. long and carry
distichally 3-4 almost horizontal spikelets on each side; the succeeding ones are
sliglitly smaller, and the ultimate have only a few short spikelets; secondary spathes
small, embracing, and with a small but distinct, almost horizontal, broadly triangular,
acute limb; the spikelets are 4-5 cm. long and have 3-5 flowers on each
s i d e ; involucrophorum pedicelliform, tjigonous, slightly tapering towards the base
aud with a distinct axillary callus, spreading or almost horizontal, fiat at the upper
end, where it is very slightly produced at one side into a small triangular
acute point ; involucre almost at a level with the involucrophorum, flat-discoid.
D. Sabuf} BECOABI. THE SPECIES OF OAEMONOEOPS. JGJ
orbicular, with an almost inconspicuous annular limb ; areola of the neuter
flower very small, punctiform, slightly callous. Female ¡lowers (judging from their
ren.nins in the fruiting perianth) narrowly conical, 3-3-5 mm.' in diameter on the
flat base, and 7 mm. long ; the calyx shallowly cupular, truncate, with 3
small apicules ; the corolla about 5 times as long as the calyx, divided
down almost to tlie middle into 3, narrowly triangular, acute segments. Fruiting
perianth with a distinct pedicelliform cylindracoous base, 2-3 mm. long. Fruit
globular-ellipsoidal or broadly ov-.id-elliptical, rounded at both ends but very
a b r u p t l y terminating in a distinct conical beak, caudiculate at the base, 23-24 mm.
long, including the beak aud perianth, 16-17 mm. broad; scales arranged in 15
longitudinal series, polished, exactly rhomboidal, narrowly grooved along the centre,
orange when fresh, straw-coloured with a reddish hue when dry; their point not
produced and obtuse ; the margin minutely erose. Seed oblong, rounded at both ends,
somewhat laterally flattened, ñnely tubercled, 15 mm. long, 12 mm. broad, 10 mm.
t h i c k ; embryo basal.
HABiTiT.-Sumatra. Discovered by E. 0. Fories in 1881 at Pane Passumah at
about 1200 m. elevation. No. 2538 in Herb. Calcutt.
OBSERVATIONS—In the group of D. mirahiUs it is distinguishable by its î e a f s h e a t hs
which have only 1-2 pairs of collars in theii- upper part, by its leaflets with 5
bristly nerves on the under-surface, and by the cylindraceous and distinctly pedicelli-
Torm f r u i t i n g perianth.
PLATE 7 6 . - D a e m o n o r o p s Forbesii Becc. Prom the type specimen No 2538 in the
Herb. Calcutt.
71. DAEMONOEOPS SABUT BOCC. in Hook. f. FL. Brit. Ind. vi, 469 and in Rec.
Bot. Sui-v. Ind, ii, 227.
DESCRIPTION.—Scandent, slender. Sheathed item 11-12 mm. i n diameter. Leaf.sheaths
cylindrical, elongate, biistiy-spinulous at the mouth, covered while young with a
r u s t y cottony furfuraceous scurf, rather thin and easily splitting longitudinally each
f u r n i s h e d with 2-3 complete, broad, membranous, reversed, petticoat-like, light-coloured
collars, formed by the confluent bases of numerous, very slender, needle-like
unequal, at times very long, black spiculae; in addition to these large collars and
interposed between them are several other narrower rings, from which radiate innumerable,
small, black, bristly spiculae that generally point downwards, but, at times,
a r e almost horizontal; coUars or rings in opposition to the reversed collars are wanting'
Leaves 1-2 m. long (in one specimen) including the petiole and a very short rudimentary
c i r r u s ; t h e petiole alone is 40 cm. long, terete, 6 - 7 mm. in diameter, armed all round,
especially at its base, with straight, digitate, divergent spines; the rachis on the upper
Burfaco has an acute, smooth, salient angle with slightly concave side-faces from the
insertion of the lowest leaflets; on the under surface, the rachis is armed with 3-nate
claws, which become smaller at the sub-eirriferous end; leaflets 32 in all (in