Oncosperma
(from onkos, a tumour, and sperma, a seed; in reference to the form of the seeds). SYN. Keppleria. ORD. Palmae. A genus comprising five or six species of spiny, stolon-bearing, stove Palms, natives of tropical Asia. Flowers unisexual, usually in threes; spadix shortly pedunculate; spathes two. Fruit small, round, one-seeded. Leaves terminal, equally pinnatisect, with very spiny, sheathing footstalks; segments ensiform, acuminate, entire. Trunks slender, spiny, marked with circular scars. The species thrive best in a compost of two parts loam, one of peat, and one of sand. They require a copious supply of water. Propagated by seeds, or by suckers. The species here described are probably the only ones yet introduced.
O. fasciculatum (fascicled). l. dark green, pinnate; pinnae long, somewhat pendent; petioles sheathing, clothed with slender black spines. Ceylon. An elegant species.
O. filamentosum (thready). l. pinnate, from 10ft. to 12ft. long; pinnae very numerous, narrow, drooping, about 2ft. long. h. 40ft. to 50ft. Malacca, &c. SYNS. Areca Nibung and A. tigillaria.
O. Van Houtteanum (Van Houtte's). A synonym of Nephro-sperma Van Houtteanum.