Didymosperma
(from didymos, double, and sperma, a seed: in allusion to the (frequently) two-seeded fruits). ORD. Palmae. A genus of unarmed stove Palms. Flowers monoeious in the same or separate spadices; male with free or connate imbricate sepals; female with valvate petals; spadix flowering amongst the leaves; spathes usually many. For culture, see Areca. D. nanum (dwarf).* l. about 2ft. long; petiole short, roundish; pinnules alternate or sub-opposite, cuneate towards the base, above this oblique, variously lobed, toothed and spinuloso-serrate, the terminal irregular in shape, generally bilobed, striately veined, green above, glaucous-white beneath. Assam and Khasia Mountains. SYN. Wallichia nana. D. porphyrocarpon (purple-fruited). l. with petiole 4ft. to 3ft. long; segments nine to seventeen, wedge-shaped, sub-panduriform, sinuate, 6in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 5in. wide, glaucous beneath, caulescent. Rhizome underground, creeping. Java.
D. tremulum (tremulous). l., segments long, flat, firm, linear, spinuloso-dentate, bifid at the apex; laciniae unequal or panduriform. Stem 3ft. to 4ft. high. Philippine Islands.