Cyrtostachys

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Cyrtostachys (family Palmae) A genus of clump-forming palms which have pinnate leaves and a prominent crown-shaft. The pendulous inflorescence occurs below the crown-shaft, and has two big spathes, the flowers being in triads of a female and twin males. C. renda (sealing-wax palm) of peat-swamp forest, is much cultivated for its scarlet crown-shaft. There are about 12 species, occurring in rain forests from Malaya to the Solomon Islands.