KAMAL A. MALIK

Climbing, growing in clumps, stem very large, slender, scandent. Leaves glabrous, pinnate, 45-75 cm long, setose above, leaflets 20-30 on each side, equidistant, alternate, linear lanceeolate, acuminate, gradually becoming smaller upward, setose above, up to 30 cm long and c. 1.5 cm broad. Petiole short, stout and pale; petiole and the nerves of the leaflets armed with straight spines. Leaf sheath armed with flat spines and bearing whip-like armed sterile inflorescence (flagella). Bracts many, elongated, tubular spiny, lower with a short limb and scattered recurved spines, upper shortly scruffy. Inflorescence very long, decompound, primary branches 4-6, flexuose. Flowers minute, male c. 2.5 mm long, secund in 3-4 series, imbricate - suberect. Fruit subglobose, c. 1.5 cm in diameter, mucronate; scales pale.

Type: Described from Bendhari Bet of the inhabitants of Chittagong.

Distribution: Tropical Himalaya, Bangla Desh, Assam to Burma.

This species is occasionally cultivated in Lahore.