Geonoma
(from geonomos, skilled in agriculture; the allusion is obscure). ORD. Palmeoe. A genus of about a hundred species of very elegant dwarf-growing stove palms. Flowers monoecious, disposed on simple or branched spikes. Fruit a small, dry, oval berry. Leaves entire, or more or less pinnately divided, usually of a pale green colour. The present genus is allied to Chamoedorea, but is less useful for decorative purposes. Geonomas thrive in a compost of two-thirds spongy peat and one of loam, with the addition of a little sand or charcoal. A plentiful supply of water is needed--"indeed, many of them grow best when plunged in a tank; and should any of them fall into bad health, if stood in a tank of water, with a little extra heat, they will speedily recover." They should be confined to the stove, as the constitution of the plants will not admit of their being employed in a permanent manner for indoor decoration; but they may be occasionally used for the dinner table. Nearly all the species are exceedingly handsome, especially in a young state. Propagated by seeds and suckers only.
G. arundinacea (reed-like). l. dark green (brown when young), bilobed. Stems caespitose, cane-like. (G. C. 1872, p. 78.) G. binervis (two-nerved). l. pinnate, pendent, 2ft. to 4ft. long; pinnae decurrent at base, tapering to a tail-like point, 6in. to 12in. long, dark green; petiole clothed with a network of rough brown fibres. Stem slender. Nicaragua.
G. Carderi (Carder's).* l. pinnate, strongly ribbed; pinnae unequal, 1/2in. to 2 1/2in. broad, upper part confluent into a broad bilobed apex; petioles flat on the upper, rounded and asperous on the lower, face. Columbia, 1876. G. congesta (crowded).* l. 1ft. to 2ft. long, either entire or with a bifid apex,or divided into broad segments, widening upwards; 6in. to 8in. across at the apex; petioles sheathing at base. Stem moderately thick. Costa Rica. G. elegans (elegant).* l. 1ft. long; terminal pinnae broad, bifid; two lateral pairs broad, decurrent; bright pink when young; petioles sheathing at base. Stem slender, reed-like. Brazil.
G. ferruginea (rusty). l. arched, pinnate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, about 8in. broad; terminal one bifid; two lateral pairs broad, sessile; petioles and stems slender. Brazil.
G. Ghiesbreghtiana. See calyptrogyne Ghiesbreghtiana. G. gracilis (slender).* l. pinnate, arching, with long linear pinnae, dark green. A graceful species, resembling Cocos Wed-deliana. Brazil, 1874. G. macrostachys (large-spiked). l. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, usually divided into three pairs of broad segments, ending in tail-like points, deep red when young; petioles light brown, sheathing at the base, tomentose. Stem slender. Brazil, 1823.
G. magnifica (magnificent). l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, 9in. to 12in. broad, plaited, unequally pinnate; apex deeply bifid; petioles blackish, sheathing. Stem somewhat stout. Chipias.
G. Martiana (Martius).* l. 1ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. across at the base, gradually increasing to the deeply bifid apex, where it is 9in. wide, reddish-crimson when young; petioles sheathing at base, 6in. long. Stem rather stout. Costa Rica. An extremely beautiful palm, the mature colour of the leaves being a deep metallic green. There is a form known as Seemannii sometimes grown.
G. Porteana (Porte's).* l. pinnate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, arched; pinnae sessile, distant, 6in. to 8in. long, 2in. broad; apex deeply bifid. Stem smooth, slender. New Grenada, 1853. An elegant species.
G. procumbens (procumbent).* l. pendent, 2ft. to 4ft. long, pinnate; pinnae pendent, about 1ft. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, very deep green. Stem stout. Described as one of the most beautiful palms in the whole genus. G. pumila (dwarf).* l. broad, deeply cleft at the apex; petioles slender, terete. Tropical America. A pretty dwarf-growing species. G. Schottiana (Schott's).* l. pinnate, 1ft. to 3ft. long; pinnae long, tapering to a tail-like point; petioles sheathing at base, long, arching, Stem slender. Brazil, 1820.
G. undata (wavy). l. arching, irregularly pinnate, 2ft. to 3ft. long; pinnae plaited, dark green, terminal pinna deeply bifid; petioles sheathing, clothed with rough fibrous tissue at base. Stem stout, 9in. to 12in. in circumference. Venezuela, 1850.
G. Verschaffeltii (Verschaffelt's). See Calyptrogyne Ghiesbreghtiana. Other species sometimes seen in cultivation are: princeps and Spixiana.