ON THE DOUBLE COCOA-NUT OF THE SEYCHELLES. 135 
It is clear that the Neottiez, in the later stages of their de- 
velopment, must have some differences. 
As an example of an Orchid where the eccentric development 
of the flower is reduced to its lowest degree may be quoted 
Thelychiton, Endl. Iconogr. t. 29, where the stigma is central, sur- 
rounded by a six-lobed cup, bearing on one of its lobes the anther. 
The only example that I am acquainted with of an Orchid 
flower in which all the stamens make their appearance, or nearly 
all, is a species of Jsochilus, found here common enough, and 
in which this irregularity is very frequent. The flower is normally 
triandrous, but very often bears five anthers, with a filament pro- 
ceeding from the front of the column just beneath the stigmatic. 
cavity (fig. 18). If this filament should ever be found to bear an 
anther, we should have the Orchid flower restored. 
On the Double Cocoa-nut of the Seychelles (Lodoicea Sechellarum) 
“Sea Cocoa-nut,” “ Double Cocoa-nut,” “Coco de mer.” By 
SWINBURN Wa, Esq. Civil Commissioner. Communicated 
by Sir W. J. Hookzn*, F.R.S. & L.S., Ze, 
[Read March 3, 1864.] 
Turs extraordinary specimen of the Palm tribe, the largest and 
most curious of all the many varied kinds scattered over all 
tropical regions, is found only in two small islands belonging to 
the Seychelles Group, “ Praslin” and “Curieuse,” which lie in 
juxtaposition between 4? and 5? of S. lat., and 55?-56? E. long., 
—nearly three hundred miles north-east of Madagascar, which, 
though itself an island, may, from its immense size, be legiti- 
mately considered the nearest mainland. 
The name by which it is best known, that of “ Coco de mer,” 
was given to it by some French navigators who bad picked up the 
nut floating at sea, and being unable to aséertain anything respect- 
ing the tree that produced it, supposed it to be the production of 
some unknown submarine plant. It has often been found on the 
coasts of Ceylon and the Maldive Islands, drifted thither by some 
of the mysterious currents which perplex mariners all over the 
Indian Ocean. The nuts attained in these countries to an almost 
religious value, and were sold in India for fabulous prices. A 
* In a letter received from Mr. Ward, he requests me to accompany this 
communication with a statement that several of the facts here described were 
also noticed by Dr, Barnard, and published in a volume of the Asiatic Society’s 
Journal, and that these have all been verified by himself. —W. J. HOOKER. 
