Licuala
(from its native name in the Moluccas). SYN. Pericycla. ORD. Palmae. A genus comprising about thirty species of dwarf stove palms, natives of Eastern tropical Asia, the Malayan Archipelago, New Guinea, and Northern Australia. Flower-spikes branching, with numerous incomplete spathes. Leaves terminal, fan-shaped, with prickly stalks, the prickles being conical, or often hooked. The species thrive in a compost of two parts peat and one of sandy loam. A strong, moist heat is most essential to success. Propagated by seeds, sown in a sandy soil, and placed in a strong, moist, bottom heat. L. acutifida (sharply-divided). This species yields the walking-sticks known by the name of Penang Lawyers. It is a native of Pulo Penang, where it grows to a height of about 5ft., its stems being about 1in. in diameter, except at the base, where they are considerably thicker.
L. elegans (elegant).* l. fan-shaped, split down to the petiole; segments plaited, praemorse at the ends, about 1 1/2ft. long, light shining green; petiole 2ft. to 3ft. long. Sumatra.
L. grandis (great).* fl. 1/3in. long; spadices several, rising from among the leaves, and nearly as long as they are; spathes at base of panicles, two or more, 2in. to 3in. long, lanceolate, acute, brown, striated. February. l. about twenty in the crown, deep bright green; petiole 2 1/2ft. to 3ft. long, slender, spiny; blade 3ft. in diameter, about 2ft. long, orbicular or semi-orbicular, concave, closely plaited, and a little wavy; margins cleft into bifid lobes, about 1in. long; lobules of the lobes very obtuse. Trunk 3 1/2ft. to base of leaves, 10in. in circumference. h. 6ft. New Britain. (B. M. 6704.) SYN. Pritchardia grandis.
L. horrida (horrid). l. dark green, fan-shaped, large, plaited; petioles stout, armed at the edges with very stout, formidable spines. Indian Archipelago. A handsome species, resembling L. elegans. L. peltata (peltate). fl. obovate. l. digitately fan-shaped, peltate; leaflets long, cuneated, many-nerved, middle one broadest, sharply bifid and toothed; petioles prickly on margins. h. 15ft. India.
L. Rumphii (Rumph's). l. palmate; segments linear, toothed, truncate at end. Stem spiny. h. 6ft. Moluccas, Borneo, 1802. SYN. L. spinosa. L. spinosa (spiny). A synonym of L. Rumphii.