22. Stamens 6. Seed elliptical. Spadices twice branched, with several spathes.--Species 1. Seychelles. Used as an ornamental plant. =Roscheria= Wendl. Stamens 40-50. Seed kidney-shaped. Spadices once branched, with 2 spathes.--Species 1. Seychelles. =Nephrosperma= Balf. 23. (17.) Spadices with many tubular incomplete spathes, twice branched. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled. Stem tree-like.--Species 4. Madagascar and Mascarenes. Used as ornamental plants. The fruit is said to be poisonous. =Hyophorbe= Gaertn. Spadices with 1-4 spathes, all or the uppermost complete (i.e. completely enveloping the spadix, when young.) 24 24. Spadices with 4 spathes, simple. Flowers sunk in pits on the spadix. Corolla valvate in bud. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled. Stem reed-like.--Species 1. West Africa. The fruit is edible. =Podococcus= Mann & Wendl. Spadices with 1-3 spathes; if simple, then corolla of the female flowers imbricate in bud or stamens 3 or many. 25 25. Stamens numerous. Stigma 1. Ovary 1-celled. Corolla valvate in bud. Spadices simple. Flowers sunk in pits on the spadix. Stem short.--Species 1. Equatorial West Africa. =Sclerosperma= Mann & Wendl. Stamens 3-6. Stigmas usually 3. 26 26. Stamens in the male flowers 3, staminodes in the female 6. Ovary with 1 fertile and 2 empty cells. 27 Stamens 6. 28 27. Stamens opposite the petals, united at the base.--Species 3. Madagascar. =Trichodypsis= Baill. Stamens alternating with the petals, free or almost free.--Species 7. Madagascar. Used as ornamental plants. (Including _Adelodypsis_ Becc.) =Dypsis= Nor. 28. Ovary 1-celled. 29 Ovary 3-celled, but usually one cell only fertile. 34 29. Spadices simple. Leaves deeply forked. Stem short, erect.--Species 5. Madagascar. =Haplophloga= Baill. Spadices branched. 30 30. Spadices once branched. Stigma usually 1. Stem tree-like.--Species 5. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Used as ornamental plants. The fibres of the leaves (piassave) are used in the manufacture of ropes and stuffs. =Dictyosperma= Wendl. & Drude Spadices 2-3 times branched. Stigmas usually 3. 31 31. Spadices twice branched. Male flowers with valvate or subimbricate sepals. Anthers sagittate, basifixed, opening outwards or laterally. Rudimentary pistil 3-cleft. Female flowers larger than the male. Stigmas 3, subsessile. Tall trees.--Species 1 (_A. Catechu_ L., betel palm). Cultivated in East Africa. It yields wood, bark for tanning, fibre, vegetables, wine, and medicaments; the fruits are chewed. =Areca= L. Spadices thrice branched. Male flowers with imbricate sepals. Anthers ovoid, opening inwards. Rudimentary pistil entire. 32 32. Styles basal. Stem reed-like.--Species 2. Madagascar. (_Chrysalidocarpus_ Wendl.) =Neodypsis= Baill. Styles or stigmas terminal. 33 33. Leaves irregularly pinnatisect, with lanceolate segments. Stem low, reed-like.--Species 1. Madagascar. (Under _Dypsidium_ Baill.) =Neophloga= Baill.