19691 DAVIS: BRANCHINGBORASSUS 47 Ramifying and Twisting Stemsof PaLmyruPalm (Borassusflabellifer) T. A. D.o.vrs, I ndian Statistical Institute, Calcutta-3|, .

Palms are not always single-stemmed. kill (10) reported on branching in In very many species, the underground Arenga pinn"ata. The Oncospermafasci- or sub-aerial stem produces numerous culatum clumps at the Botanical Garden, shoots, and such palms bearing clusters Bogor, , show aerial branch- of shoots at the stem base are known as ing at various heights. Also there are soboliferous or clustering palms. Ridley Iwo Arecastrutn Romdnzollianum palms (55) was of the opinion that the ma- at the Agricultural Research Station, jority of palms are branched in this Bogor, which show aerial branching. manner and that palms with one axis are The mode of branching in the above- in the minority. Branches are produced mentioned two speciesreminded me of as a regular feature in a {ew genera such the type we seein thebaira. as Hyphaene, Nannorrhops, Chamae- A number of reports on aerial branch- tlorea, Vonitra and Nypa (65) but ing in Cocos nucilera have been made otherwise only as freaks in other species. over a long period (.2,9, 12, 15, L7, 20, Blatter (6) mentioned that exceptional 25,26,27,34, 36,39, 41, 46, 48,53, branching occurs in ten species. 54, 55, 66, 67). Since the is A photograph of a two-headed Roy- normally a single-stemmed tree, ab- stonea.was illustrated by Seibert (58). normal suckering is very rare but has Cremata (13) recorded another instance beenrecorded by Patel (52), Davis (19, of branching in the royal palm. I have 28), Aiyadurai et al (1), Chatterjee seen an impressive photograph of a (11), Michaeland Verghese(47). three-branched Roystonea regia which In the African oil palm (.Elaeisguine- Prof. S. G. Saakov of Leningrad took ensis'), a very few instances of aerial in Cuba. A branched Coccothrinax branchinghave beenrecorded (22,5I). ergentdta was illustrated by Smiley (60). There is one more branching oil palm A specimen of Liaistona chinensis with not far from Kuala Lumpur, . two heads had been recorded by Hert- In Phoenix syluestris,a single-stemmed rich (37). Recently I photographed a palm, a few instancesof aerial branch- three-crowned Liuistona chinensis grow- ing havebeen recorded (5, 7, I7, I8,25, ing at the premises of the Cathedral at 33, 43) . Phoenix dactylilera normally Singapore. Hodge (38) reported a two- producessuckers but Martius (44) illus- headed Sabal Palmetto and another trates a specimen of P. ilactylilera with gracefully branching Sabal which has a a short side branch midway between captivating look against one of the new the base and the summit. Evans (32) buildings on the Florida State University recorded a rare seven-branchedPhoenix campus at Tallahassee. McCurrach (45) Roebelenii. All the shoots originated published a photograph of a Sabal from the same point well above ground Palrnetto {rom Florida developing four level. A number of cases of aerial heads some distance uD the stem. Bur- branching as well as suckering have 48 PRINCIPES [Vo]. 13

1. The branching Borassusflabelliler on the le{t at presenthas only one of three shoots.

been recorded in the areca palm (Areca Catechu)(2, 24, 25, 36, 42, 49, 50, 59, 64). In thepalmyra palm, flabelli' palmyra having only one of its ier, a few instancesof aerial branching 2. A female branches remaining-the insert details have been recorded 25, 6I). A many \I4, the branching junction. number of branching palmyra Palms, mostly from Madras State (India), are described in the following pages. In branch shows a very narrow- base which addition, two instances are recorded obviously was the result of congestion where the otherwise sturdy and erect stem and slower growth of the shoot owing showed spiralling and unusual bending. to competitionbetween the three original branches. This palm and many of those Romifying stems illustrated below are still in existencein Madras, and Andhra States of Figure 1 shows a branching palmyra India. palm (extreme left) with only one o{ The surviving shoot in Fig. I is the the original three branches. Remnants of the other two shoots which withered central one but the single shoot still many years ago may be seen at the attachedto the stem of the palm in Fig. branchjunction (arrow). The surviving 2 is lateral. The exact number of shoots t9691 DAVIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS

4. A closer view of the branchine iunction of a palmyra palm.

The branching palm in Fig. 3 un- doubtedly had at one time more than two shootsas indicated by the scar and the remnants of trunks at the branch 3. The palm on the left has only two surviving junction (arrow). shoots. Figure 4 shows the base of a ramify- ing palmyra, branching about five {eet the palm originally had is not known from the ground. The three shoots are but it may have been seven. Six of them all over 25 leet high. The middle shoot were reported to have been lost in a appears to be the continuation of the cyclone. The palm is female and the main stem, and the lateral ones may be surviving shoot bears plenty of . offshoots from successivelydeveloped Professional climbers without any fear axillary buds. reach the surviving crown to collect Figure 5 depicts another three- tender for the edible iellv-like stemmedpalmyra from Madras State.All endosperm. the three shootsare in one nlane. Manv 50 PRINCIPES lVol. 13

L'.,. :i:illi: i:!ta :t::;':rai;

'!',.. ;;r'::.::

:li f i!:.:i

5. A palmyra palm having three shoots. 6. A palm with three shoots. Note the ten- dency to fasciation at the junction. of the other palms illustrated conform to this principle, although in a few, the branchesdevelop in various directions. In Fig. 7, a branching palm has three Figure 6 is of another three-crowned shoots surviving although at least three Borassusflabellifer. The middle shoot additional shoots had originally devel' appears to be the continuation of the oped from the same branch junction. original stem as in Figs. 4 and 5. The The surviving branches of this female lateral branches have caught up with palm are almost of the same height. the growth of the middle one, but there In the next four {igures (B-11), four is no evidence of further branching. palms (all {rom Madras) are illustrated, The branch junction is slightly fasciated. each having four distinct shoots. The 19691 DAVIS: BRANCHINGBORASSUS

palm having {our massive branches. 7. A branching palm with three surviving shoots. Alagu Arumugam of Karaikudi, Madras State. {emalepalm in Fig. 8 is about 60 years The branching in the palm in Fig. 9 old and about 60 feet high. Branching occurred very early and the four shoots took place when it was half its present developedgigantically, each resembling height. It may be noted that all the a normal palm. The attachment of the branches start from almost the same shoots to the main stem is obviously level, and there is no visible mechanical {irm enough to support the enormous injury anywhereon the stem. The palm weight of the tall branchesand to with- was photographed near . The stand the stressinduced by strong winds. photographsof palms in Figs. 7, 9, ll, The branches do not originate from a 12, and 16 were kindly supplied by Mr. common junction and shoot A was pro- JZ PRINCIPES [Vol. 13

10. Another four-crowned palmyra showing two-stage branching. g. Two-stagebranching in Borassusflabelli- j "r. "di- producing a trunk two Jeet long vided" again into two. Two o{ these duced at least three years before the shoots have a left-handed and the rest remaining three shoots. a right-handed foliar spiral. The palm In Fig. 10, branching originated about is growing at a place about 12 miies 20 feet from the ground and the branches from Cape Comorin, the southern end extend in the same plane. The two inner of India. branches (B and C) are taller than the The palm in Fig. 1I is another clear peripheral ones (A and D). It is clear case of repeated branching. Initial "divided" from the picture that the stem branching began rather early, from the into two, and one of the branches, after head-level of the youngsters leaning on 19691 DAVIS: BRANCHINGBORASSUS )J

I1. A further instance of a palm having four 12. A palmyra palm with five branches along tall branches. a common plane. the stem at A. The shoot on the left adjacent levels. I have not seen this (B) developed three branches after palm, and its sex cannot be made out growing another four feet. Three young. from the picture. 'Ihe sters are squeezed between the four female palm in Fig. 13 has six shoots. tall branches, each with a normal-sized Figure 12 shows a palm having five crown. In addition, at least six withered distinct branches,all in one plane. The shoots are seen at the common level of branches are almost the same length branching about 10 feet from the and seem to have developedfrom two ground. The branches are spread more )4 PRINCIPES IVol. 13

13. Branching in this palm started very early. Only six shoots have crowns. 14. The stem of this palm emitted lateral or less in a single plane. Figure 14 shoots at a heieht of about 50 feet. shows another palm with seven shoots of which only three have retained living growing for about three feet. The shoot crowns. It is a female palm about B0 on the extreme right (C), after produc- year old. ing a foot-long trunk, {lattened some- The palm in Fig. 15 has eight branches what and transformed into three shoots. which developedat different heights and Of these,the central one (F), after pro- "divided" there{ore at different intervals. The ducing a {our-foot trunk, "divided" stem about L2 feet {rom the into two. One branch (H) repeatedthe ground. The shoot on the right (A) phenomenon after producing a trunk developedthree shootsin one plane after about two feet long. Apparently there r9691 DAVIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS

15. An instance of "uniparous" mode o{ lrranchingin a palmyra palm. 16. A palm bearing nine shoots with crowns intact. is no mechanical injury to the stem rvhich could be regarded as responsible having withered away. The palm is for the multi-stage branching. female and the inflorescencesof all the The palms in Figs. 16 and 17 have branchesare successfullytapped for the nine shoots each. Both show clear re- sugary sap which is either drunk fresh peated branching. In Fig. 16, all the as a cooling beverageor boiled down nine shoots are intact but they do not into . Sometimesit is fermented lie in one plane. There are at least four and consumedas an intoxicating drink. branch junctions (indicated by arrows). The sphericalbodies in two crowns (P) The palm in Fig. I7 has only {our shoots which resemblefruits are only mud pots with intact crowns, the remaining five {or the collectionof sap. 56 PRINCIPES lVol. 13

A {emale palmyra with nine branches, 17. 18. A palm with a {asciating primary branch. fire of which hare lost their croltns.

which make it difficult to photograph Figure 18 shows another palmyra the abnormal palm from other angles. palm whose stem at a height of about Figure 19 shows another palmyra 18 feet developedthree shoots; one o{ oalm with a {asciatedstem. I could not them (A) subsequentlybecame fasciated count the actual number of branchesthe and produced eight shoots. Three of tree produced since those deprived o{ thesesecondary branches (D, E and F) their crowns were very compact and rebranched. As is clear from the pic- short. Portions of shootsbearing further ture, all the shoots grow in one plane. orders of branching were also missing When I photographedthis palm in June, at the time of photographing in 1958. 1965, only two shoots had crowns, but The local people call this palm the five years earlier at least two more o'hundred-headedpalmyra"-a degreeof shoots had crowns. The palm is sur- exaggerationis understandable.But this rounded by a group of normal palmyras freak tree is resarded with ill-omen as \9691 DAVIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS

"hundred-headed" t9. The nalmvra. branching is supposed to have been induced by the act of a demon. The palm in Fig. 20 is perhaps the

{irst branchedpalmyra I ever saw, some 20. A 28-headed palmyra showing multistage forty years ago. Unfortunately this no repeat-branching. longer exists but it used to be an im- portant landmark along the coastal the result of a lightning strike. It may (west) road about 15 miles from Cape be dif{icult to accept this explanation Comorin. The branchestotalled 28 and in view of the repeated nature of the all of them grew in one vertical plane. branching. Branching had been at di{ferent inter- Figures 21-23 representa slightly dif- vals of time and in different positions. ferent type of branching. All of them It was reported that the branching was have severalbranches at different levels. 5B PRINCIPES lVol. 13

were three branches,the larger one with many second-and third-order branches having fallen. The scar of this shoot is indicated by the arrow in the picture. The shoot on the left (B) divided into three soon after, o{ which two have lost their crowns (D & E). The third branch grows as a single stem for a height of about seven{eet at the end of which it produced {our branches, two retaining crowns. The other two after a while had produced three and four shoots each, but all these third-order branches lost their growing points. The {irst' order branch on the right (C) produced four shoots (F, G, H, I) but only F still has a crown. Of the remaining three which have lost their crowns, one (I), a{ter growing to a height of about two feet, produced three shoots (J, K, L) of which L, a{ter producing a five-foot 'rt stem, branched into three. All these ? third- and fourth-order shootslost their

rX crowns. As a whole, the tree now has 19 brancheswith and without crowns. Figure 22 has been kindly suppliedby the Director, GovernmentMuseum, Ma- dras, and shows a Borassus with nu- merous branches. I am unable to give more details than those evident in the picture. Figure 23 was originally published in a Telegu weekly (SachithrawarPathrika) 21. A palm with very irregular type of of March 17, 1965, and I am indebted branching. to the editor {or supplying the picture. It is a unique tree with irregular branch- The branches are arranged irregularly irg. One main branch (marked X) in many planes. Figure 2l is of a palm with its many subsequentbranches, is from Kerala State which has retained missing. Many branchesappear to have only about two-thirds the original num- developedaxillary buds. If this palm is ber of shoots, the rest having fallen imagined to have been buried in the away during a cyclone in 1955. I saw soil almost as far as the base of the this palm first in 1953 when it looked small shoots bearing the crowns, pro- like a crowded Pand,anus clump but duction of the branches (suckers) may details of its branching could not be be regarded as simulating that in many photographed. The branching is rather soboliferous palms as for example, complicated. At {irst division, there Chry s alicl o carpus lutes c e ns. 1969I DAYIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS

ff

22. A multi-headed palmyra paim. Photo courtesy Government Nluseum, Madras. 60 PRINCIPES [Vo]. 13

2g. A pigmy palmyra with numerous shoots, the white X indicates a withered branch.

Twisting slems two specimens in Figs. 24 and. 25 are noteworthy. The palm in Fig. 24 is The paimyra palm is one of the Kerala and sturdiest and most erect, comparableto from the southern end of Lotloicea maldi,uica, so that bends and was photographed by my former col- twists are seldom noticed on them. The leagueMr. U. Sukumaran. The stemhas DAVIS; BRANCHINGBORASSUS

A Borassus trunl< that has bent 62 PRINCIPES [Vol. 13 making two completerevolutions around the stem as indicated in the sketch. The palm in Fig. 25 has a counterclockwise foliar spiral.

Cqusesfor the production of brqnches In the soboliferouspalms, production of branches (suckers) is a normal char- acteristic. In a {ew other specieslike Hyphaene, aerial or sub-aerial branch- ing is also a normal phenomenon(65). But in other palms, branching takes place as a result of certain abnormal causes. According to Morris (48), branching may be the result of the in- jury or destruction of the terminal bud. This is sometimesthe case with Phoenix syluestris where the tender stem is in- jured for the extraction of a sugary sap. Lightning is another probable cause. A palm mildly struck by lightning may recover and if its single growing point is split into many piecesduring the strike, some of these divided stem apices mdy develop into branches. However, it is difficult to expecta tree to be repeatedly struck by lightning to induce repeated branching. Perhaps the lightning shock creates some systemic imbalance in some palms so as to induce an atavistic characteristic of perennial branching. 25. A palmyra palm with a twisting stem. Diseases affecting the growing point may also induce the production of two fairly sharp bends and a broad loop shootsin palms as reported in the areca covering about 250o. With the coconut, palm by Sinclair (59). Quisumbing twisting and bending o{ the stem is (54) offered another explanation. In rather common (21). For examPle, a the Philippines, rhinoceros beetles at- rare palm at Alagos, Argentina made tacking two coconut palms were elim- two acute bends, ultimately looking like inated by burning the crowns with the letter N. Another striking case of kerosene. The leaveswere scorchedand a twisting coconut is given by Child {or a time the trees appearedto be dead. (r2). After sometime the owner was surprised Figure 25 is a palm from West to see new branches developing. It is which shows a clear twist of the stem. not clear whether the branching was There is a linear mark of injury starting due to the stimulation of the fire or the from A and extending up to B after beetle attack. Rhinoceros beetle is a 19691 DAVIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS 63

seriouspest of the coconut, the palmyra It may not be out of place to mention and a few other speciesof palms and here that the offshoots of branching I their boring into the growing point may palms, especiallyof the date, are some- induce multiple branching. Mechanical times considered to be seedlings ger- I choking by other can also induce minating in the axils of persistent branching in palms. Hodge (38) men- bases. Stewart (62), relerring to the tions that the two-headedRoystonea sp. records of branching in palms of north- was the result of constriction by vines ern India, statesthat they merely result originally growing over the palm which from which falls into and germ- practically cut the original single bud inates within the lea{ axils. Brandis (7) into two. This seemsunlikely, however. rejected this view. However, I have Deliberatesplitting of the growing point myself photographedat leastten branch- of a palm to produce branching can be ing Ph,oeniasyluestris palms in northern done. Evans (32) is o{ the opinion that India. In support of Stewart (62), I the production o{ seven branches on a wish to mention that I saw hundreds Phoenix Roebelenii palm recorded by of African oil palms at the United Plan- him was the result of a deliberate act tations, Teluk Anson, Malaysia {rom by a skilled plantsman. It appearsthat some of whose leaf axils, several seed- there are a dozen such branched palms lings (up to sixty in one palm) were around the Avocado Palace in Guate- found to grow. Periodically these seed- mala City. It would be useful if this lings are either pulled down by hand or technique could become widely known. slashedwith a harvestingkni{e. With the coconut, I artifically induced branches while in l(erala (23) and in Dichotomousbrqnching in pqlms Calcutta (28). Further successwith this There is controversy over the exact method was reported by Michael and mode of branching in certain speciesof Verghese (47). Artificial splitting of palms like Hyphaene. Someworkers (6, the growing point of young Borassas 57) consider this mode of branching to sprouts is much easier as is clear from be dichotomous and not due to pre- my recent trials. cocious development of a lateral bud. There is yet another reason for the The sheathat the point of ooforking"has production of branchesin palms. When a solid center as well as two lateral the terminal bud of a coconut is injured, channels within which the shoot de- there seemsto be a tendency for adja- velops. The two shootsare nearly equal I cent buds, axillary or adventitious, to in size and this is regarded as evidence developand replacethe destroyedtermi- for a true dichotomy. Morris (48), on l nal bud. According to QuisumbinC(54) the other hand, was of the firm opinion this is possible because there are in- that the branches develop {rom other- {lorescenceswhich fail to developflowers wise suppressedaxillary buds or by the and fruits but insteadproduce branches. transformation of branches, That an inflorescencecan be transformed Ridley (55) very much doubted the into a vegetativeshoot has been reported occurrenceof dichotomy in palms. Ac- in the coconut by many workers (8, 16, cording to him, in all casesof bifurca- 29, 35, 40, 55, 56, 63) in the African tion or apparent bifurcation which it oil palm (22, 5I), in Areca catechuby was possible to investigate, one of the Davis (30) and in Iwo Borassusflabel- branches was a lateral bud, often pro- Iiler palms by Davis and Basu (31). duced low down on an already tall main PRINCIPES tVol. 13 "Borassus" stem and the axillary bud had grown so Brcc,tnr, O. f913. Studio sui e descrizione di un genere nuovo rapidly that in time it equalled the orig- "." asiatico di Webbia 4:293- inal one in height and thickness. This 385. is exactly the situation in Chrysalid,o- Brsw,ts,K. 1934. Observationson some carpus lutescens.From some branching abnormalities in Bengal. Current nodes o{ this species,I have collected Science 3:IB9-193. the peculiar sheath with a solid center Br,rrrrn, E. 1,926. The Palms of British India and Ceylon. Oxford University and two lateral channels. True dicho- Press, London, tomy, however, occurs in some cases 7. BnawoIs, D. L874. Forest flora of North- where the growing point is split by West and Central India, London. lightning or similar shocks and two B. Bunrrr,r,, I. H. 1915. An abnormality in shoots develop from the single apical the coconut palm. Journal o{ the Royal Asiatic Society, Straights Branch 69:15. meristem (33). In fasciating stems, Bunrnr., I. H. I923a. The fertility of the various shoots may have a similar branched coconut palms. Gardens' Bul- origin. letin, Singapore 3:I-2. Summory 10. Bunrrr,r, I. H. 19231r. Branching in Arenga pinnata, Gardens' Bulletin, Borassus llabelliler is normally a Singapore 3:3-4. single-stemmed palm. A number of 11. Cnnmrnrnn, D. 1959. On multiple seed- casesare reported where the single stem lings of coconut. Science & Culture has produced lateral shoots, each indi- 25:370. 12. Curr,n, R. 1964. . Longmans vidual having one to thirty or more Green & Co., London. branches. The exact cause for the pro- 13. Cnrlr,rte, M. 1919. Un fenomeno curi- duction of branches in palms is not oso. Revista de agricultura, industria known although mechanical injury at y comercio, Trab.: 2, 509. the growing point as a result of tapping 14. D,c.vrs, T. A. I9M. A multi-headed palmyra (Borassus for toddy (in Phoenix sylaestris),or by llabellifer L.). Jour- nal of the Bombay Natural History beetle attack, lightning strike, diseases, Society tl6:563. fire at the crown, choking of the growing I5. - 1947. Abnormal palms o{ South point by other twining plants, etc. have Travancore. II. A three-crowned coconut been thought to be some probable palm. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 47:398+1O0. causes.While in a few speciesof palms 16. - 1948. Abnormal palms of Trav_ branching is genetically controlled, it ancore. III. A bulbiliferous coconut has been possible to induce branching palm (Cocos nucilera L.). Journal of in the coconut,areca and palmyra palms. the Bombay Natural History Society Most of the branching palms produce 47:527-529. 17. - 1950a. Branching in some Indian fruits as evidencedby some of the fe- palms. Indian Coconut Journal 3:135- male palmyras illustrated above. L45. 18. - 1950b. Dichotomy in certain Lrrrzu.runr Crrrl branched palms. Indian Coconut Jour- 1. Arv,rluner, S. G., M. P. A. Innenrrr, & nal 4:36-43. T. ReMAN,c.tuA.r. 1959. Multiple seed. 19.- 1956a. Suckering in coconut lings from a germinating coconut palms. Bulletin, Indian Central Coco- (Cocos nucilera Linn.). Science & 9:179-180. Culture 24:339-340. nut Committee - 1956b. Branching in coconut 2. Arny, P. S. 1870. On branched palms 20. in southern India. Transactions of the palms. Bulletin, Indian Central Coco- Linnean Society, London 26:66I-662. nut Committee 9 :197-200. - 3. Alrolrvlrous, 1958. Multi-branched areca 2r. I956c. Curves and twists in palm. Arecanut Journal 9(3): cover coconut stems. Bulletin, Indian Central page' Coconut Committee 9 :235-237. 19691 DAVIS: BRANCHING BORASSUS 65

22. - 1959. Foliation of certain spadi- nal of the Bombay Natural HistorY ces in an African oil palm (Elaeis Society41:907. guineensis Jacq.) Science & Culture 43. M.ln.Ln-rr,n,T. S. & M. V. Penrnes.lnernv. 25:332 333. 1963. The Phoenix Linn. in 23. - 1960a. Clonal propagation in India. Journal of the Bombay Natural coconuts. Current Science 29:273. History Society60:371-387. 24. - 1960b. Aerial layering in Areca 44. M.tnrrus, C. F. P. Historia Naturalis catechu. Arecanut Journal 1I:9-1I. Palmarum. Munich 1823-1850' 25. - I96Ia. Some unfamiliar palms, 45. McCunnrcn, J. C. 1960. Palms of the Samvadadhvam, Calcutta 4 :7-10. World. Harper & Bros', New York. 26. - 1961b. Importance des racines 46. MnnoN, K. P. V. & K. M. P"lrvn.lr,,tr. aeriennes du cocotier (Cocos nucifera). l%0. The coconut palm, a monograPh. Oleagineux I6:653-661. Indian Central Coconut Committee, 27. - I962a. Rejuvenation of coconut Ernakulam, . palms. World Crops 14: 256-259. 47. Mrcr,tnl, K. J. & E. J. VrncnBsr. 1963. - 28. 1962b. Vegetative propagation Production of suckers in coconut. in the coconut. Nature 196:904-905. Indian CoconutJournal 16:106-108. 29. - 1967. Foliation o{ coconut_spad- 4g. Monnrs, D. 1892. On the phenomena Oleagineux 22:L9-23' ices and . concernedin the production of forked 30. - 1969. Phyllody of the spadix in and branched palms. Journal of rhe Areca catecltu Linn. Science & Culture Linnean Society, London, BotanY, 29: 34:456-488. 2Br-298. 31. - and s. K. Besu. 1968. Two cases 49' & K. V. A. B,tveppe. of bulbil-bearing Borasszs llabeltiler Munrnv, K. N. Linn. Journai of Indian Botanical So' 1959. Abnormalities in arecanut.Are- ciety (in press). canut Journal t0:97-107. 32. Ev.rNs, M. I%6. Phoenix Roebelenii, 50. N.rrnu, G. V. B. 1963. Variation in the Principes10:5. external morphology o{ arecanut stem. 33. Frrr.n, F. 1908. A branching Arecanut Journal 74:149-154. (Phoenix sylaestris). Journal of the 5l' Nern, R. G. & R. V. Prr.r.rr. 1959. A Bombay Natural History Society IB: note on the abnormal developmentsin 699-704. an oil palm. Indian Coconut Journal 34. Funr,tro, C. X. 1923. Branchedcoconut 12:77-87. palms and their fertility. Garden's Bul- 52. Petnr-, J. S. 1938. The coconut' a letin, Singapore3 :274-279. monograph.Govt. Press,Madras' 35. - and P. C. Bennrro. 1920. Ab- 53. Pmcr, T. & C. H. Geno. 1923. The re- normal . Poona Agricul- placement of the terminal bud in the tural CollegeMagazine 12:BI-83. coconut palm. Annals of Botany, Lon- 36. Henr. W. E. IBBB. Note on some don 37445-460. branching palms. Journal of the Bom- 54. Qursunuuc, E. 1926. Branching in co- bay Natural History Society 3:250-255. conut. Philippine Agriculture 15:3-lI. 37. Hnnrnrcn, W. 1960. Palms and Cycads. 55. Rrrlrv, H. N. 1907. Branching in The H. E. Huntington Library and Art pa1ms. Annals of Botany, London 2l: Gallery, California. 415422. 38. Houcr, W. H. 1965. Branching palms. 56. Senns, W. N. 1927, Abnormalities in Principes 9:98*100. the coconut palm. Malayan Agricultural 39. Huncnn, F. W, T. 1920. Cocosnucifera. Journal 15:290'293. Amsterdam. 57. Scuourr, J. C. 1909. Uber die Verlste- rXx0.IvrNcen, M. O. P. 1922. Note on a lung bei monokotylen Baumen. II. Die bulbilerous coconut tree from Malabar. Verdstelung von Hyphaene. Recueil des Journal of the Indian BotanicalSociety Travaux botaniquesN6erlandais 6:2ll- 3:289-291. 232. 41. Jecon, K. C. 1935. Stem fasciation in 58. Snrurnr, R. J. 1957. Two-headedRoy' the cocoanut palm (Cocos nucilera stone'a.Pfincipes l:126. Linn.). Journal of the BombayNatural 59' Srncr.lrn, W. F. 1889. A branching History Society37:966. arecanut palm. Journal of the Bombay 42. - I94fi. Stem fasciation in the Natural History Society4:317. arecapalm. (Areca catechuL.). Jour- 60. Srtrlrv, N. L962. A branched Coco- 66 PRINCIPES [Vol. 13

thrinax argentata. Principes 6: cover 64. - 1964. Areca palm with thirteen page. crowns. Arecanut Journal 15:24. 6I. Snrxrv,ts,Ln, K. R. 1946. Instance of 65. Tonrr.rNsoN,P. B. & H. E. Moonr, Jn. fasciation in palmyra (Borassus flabel- 1966. Dichotomousbranching in palms? lifer\ . Jonrnal of the Bombay Natural PrincipesI0:2I-29. History Society 46 :207-202, 66. WnEv, G. 1936. Freaks o{ nature. 62. Srrwrnr, J. L. 1869. Punjab plants (p. Jamaica Agricultural Society Journal 244). Govt. Press, Lahore. 40:618419. oJ. Tnones, C. A. 1961. Coconut bulbils 67. Yrcxexen,rv.LNe,A. K. 1942, Curiosi with roots, Indian Coconut Journal 14: ties in coconuts. Mysore Agricultural r32-r34. Journal 20:2-4.

PALMTITERATURE Gr,.Lsslr.Ltt,S. F. Preliminary studiesin clusion that Arecastrum RoffLa,nzoflia- the palm genusSyagrru Mart. and its nutn and Arihuryroba schizopltylla allies. Fieldiana:Botany 3f (5): I 5- should be considered species oI Sya- 165, figs. 44-50. 22 Dec. 1965. grus, and that each hybridizes with f{ew speciesin the palm genus Syagrus coronata,. In the fi{th article, Syagrus Mart. Fieldiana: Botany 3l Syagrus oleraceais consideredwith re- (9): 233-245,figs. 1-7. 24 Apr. 1967. lation to a new speciesand to a new New speciesin the palm genus hybrid. SyagrusMart., II. Fieldiana:Botany W'ossrr,sBorn, J. G. The geonomoid 3l ( f 3) : 283-299,figs. 1-15. 22 Feb. palms. Verhandelingender Koninkli- 1968. jke NederlandseAkademie van Weten- Studies in the palm genus schappen,Afd. \atuurkunde. series2, SyagrusMart. Fieldiana:Botany 3l 58(1): l-202, frontispiece,figs. 1- (17): 361-397,Iigs. I-20. 23 May 93, I table, distribution maps, plates 1968. I-X. N. V. Noord-Hollandsche Uit- Syagrusolero"cea (Mart.) Becc. gevers Maatschappij, Amsterdam, and closely related taxa. Fieldiana: 1968. 22 Florins (about$6.16). Botany 32(3): 13-33, figs. 1-19. 19 'Wessels Aug. 1968. Dr. Boer has written a botani- cal monograph of the geonomoid palms The above five studies o{ the cocoid which he considersto consist oI Astero- genus Syagrzs and its relatives result gyne (inclli'ding Aristeyera), Calyptro- from revisionarystudies being conducted gytLe (including Calyptronoma and by Dr. Glassman,who is on the faculty Pholid,ostachys), Geonoma (including of the University of Illinois at Chicago Kalbreyera and Taenianthera), and Circle. Dr. Glassmanis also a research Welfia. The book is attractively pre- associatein palms at the Field Museum pared and well illustrated. It consistsof of Natural History which publishes major sections on morphology and Fieldiana. anatomy, delimitation of genera, distri- A provisional key to the Sya.grus al- bution, ecologyand uses,re{erences, tax- liance, both genera and species,is the onomy, names of uncertain application, chief feature of the first paper, while indices of exsiccataeand of names. eight new speciesare described in the The treatment of both genera and second and third articles. The fourth speciesis substantially more conserva- study consistschiefly of taxonomicnotes. tive than that of Burret, who provided a Of especial interest is Glassman'scon- (Continuedon page76)