PRINCIPES The Genus Acanthophoenix Alex D. Hawkes Tlre palm genus Acanthophoenix d,ates The Red Barbel Palm, Acanthophoenix from the year 1867, when Hermann Wend- rubra,'is a slender, erect species to as land named two palms {rom the Mascar- much as sixty feet in height. The singular- ene Islands, previously known as Areca ly handsome young specimens have prom- crinita and A. rubra, as Acanthophoenix inently red-veined fronds. The mature crinitu and A. rubra, respectively (in FL. leaves reach a length of about twelve feet; DES SERRES16: I8l, pls. 1706-7.1867.). they are gracefully arching, and bear Today, these handsome plants, known un- some bristly spines on the lower midrib der cultivation as B.arbel Palms, are rela- o{ each pinna and on the leaf-rachis itself. tively {requent inhabitants of our gar- The basal sheath is conspicuously cover- dens and palmetums, where the statu- ed with black spines. The numerous, lin- esque beauty.adds greatly to the landscape. ear-lanceolate pinnae are 2-pointed at the In their juvenile forms, they are perhaps apex, and lighter in color beneath than even more popular, because of the tinged on the upper surface. The spathes sub- fronds. As yet, only the two species are tending the inflorescence oI A. rubra reach known to science. They are allied to the a length of almost two {eet, and are often genus l)eckenia Wendl. ex Seem., {rom {urnished basally with a few black spines. the Seychelles Islands, and belong to the The spadix is about three feet long, with trlbe Areceae. some short rigid spines at the base, and The generic characters ior Acantho- has the rachillae more or less straight and phoenix ere as {ollows: Slender pinnate densely many-flowered. The pistillate erect solitary palms to 60 feet high, with {lowers ar.e hidden by the much more ringed spinelesstrunks. Leaves very long abundant staminate ones, and are inter- and graceful, arching or with the lower spersedamong them. The staminate blos- ones almost pendulous; pinnae close to- soms have reddish-purple petals and much gether, long, narrow, strongly nerved and shorter, smaller, whitish sepals. The al- with a prominent midrib, in the juvenile most globular fruits which measure plants red-( A. rubra) or yellow-veined about one-half inch in diameter, are shiny (A. crinita), and very attractive; leaf black in color. This attractive palm in- sheaths more or less spiny. Spathe thin habits Reunion Island in the Mascarenes, and papery, consisting of two parts and formerly existed as well on nearby (valves), deciduous on maturity. Spadix Mauritius, but according to recent authori- robust, two-branched, with strongly pen- ties. is probably extinct in the latter area. dent rachillae of very numerous flowers The Yellow Barbel Palm, Acanthophoe- that are set closely together; stalk more nix crinita, is similar to the other spe- or less spiny. Flowers unisexual, red- cies, A. rubra, in general habit, but when purple, white, yellow, or pinkish, fra- young has yellow-green fronds; it is also, grant; usually one pistillate flower borne in most instances, somewhat less robust under two staminate ones, the latter larg- in appearance. The leaf-petioles of l. er in size; staminate flowers with promin- crinita are tuzzy,bear a few slender spines ent white anthers, spreading; pistillate at the sheathing base, and are not as wide llowers scarcely opening, bud-like in ap- as those of the other species.Both spathe pearance, almost globular; sepals and and spadix are shorter than in A, rubra; petals 3. Fruit about l/2 long, globose, the spadix has a few rigid spines to a- hard, black. bout eight inches long near the base, and 54 PRINCIPES its rachillae are rather crooked. The stam- quarter inch in length when mature. The inate {lowers have white, yellow, or pink- more or less oblong fruit is about one- half inch in length, rather irregular in ish petals, and sepals which (as in the shape, and black in color. This handsome other species) are noticeably shorter. The palm inhabits both Mauritius and Re- pistillate blossoms measure about one- union Islands, in the Mascarene group, -:"-i *,*"ff .i '* Photo by R. E. VAUGHAN Acanthophoeni:r,crinita, Mauriti's, where it is native (Fig. 69, Gent. Herb. yI, t942J. 55.