208 BOTANY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. HERALD. 
in a 
clearer light. Morren (Dodonjca, toI. iii. part ii. p. 74) also wrote some valuable remarks on tlie seeds 
of it. In 1849, Sir W. J. Hooker contributed his sLare towards the perfection of our knowledge of Fhyte- 
lephas. In an Ible article, pubUahed in ' Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Misc.' vol. i. p. 204, 
he reproduced not only the pith of nearly all that had hecn written upon the subject, by Euiz and Pavon, 
Humboldt and Bonpland, Purdie, Iklartius, and Morren, but also added some valuable observations of his 
own, as well as a detailed description of the fruit and seed ; and, availing himself of the services of Mr. W. 
Fitch, "he illustrated his paper with two plates, the one representing a view of a grove of Ivory plants on 
the banks of the Magdalena (from a sketch of Edward Mark), the other, the fruit, seed, and several toys 
made from the albumen. For want of perfect specimens of the flowers that author was unahle to confirm 
the accuracy of Martius' description of those organs, or supply the deficiencies which the latter, from 
similar causes, was compelled to admit in his generic character. 
In Decemhcr 1847, whilst ascending the river Cupica, I had the good fortune to fall in with the Ivory 
plant, and afterwards met with it in various other parts of Daricn. A selection from the notes taken on 
those occasions was subsequently published (Hooker*s Journal of Botany and Kew Gard. Misc. vol. iii. 
p. 303, and * Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald,' vol. i. p. 222). It contained a general descrip- 
tion of the plant, and dwelt upon the close relationship of Fhytele^has with Fandanea. Since then there 
has not heen, so far as I know, any additional information given to the world ; and it only remains for me 
to draw up an account of this remarkable production, as perfect as the various materials, published and un- 
published, at my disposal, will permit. 
The Ivory plant is confined to the continent of South America, where it grows between the 9th degree 
of north, and the 8th of south latitude, and the 70th and 79th of west longitude. It inhabits damp locali- 
ties, such as confined valleys, hanks of rivers and rivulets, and is found not only on the lower coast region, 
as in Darien, hut also on mountains at an elevation of more than 3000 feet above the sea, as in Oeana. 
Amongst the Spaniards and their descendants it is known by the name of " Palma de marfil" (Ivory 
Palm), whilst its fruit is called by them " Cabeza de Negro" (Negro's head), and its seed "Marfil vegetal" 
(vegetable ivory). The Indiana on the banks of the Magdalena term the plant "Tagua," those on the 
coast of Harien " Anta," and those in the Peru " Pullipunta" and " Homero*." It is generally found in 
separate groves, seldom intermiicd with other trees or shrubs, and where even herbs are rarely met with, 
the ground appearing as if it had been swept. The trunk is always pulled down, partly by its own weight, 
partly by its aerialroots; and thus forma a creeping caudex, which is frequently twenty feet long, hut is 
seldom higher than six feet. The top is crowned with from twelve to twenty pinnatisect leaves, the entire 
Icnf'th of which is from eighteen to twenty feet. The segments are towards the base of the leaf alternate, 
towards the apex opposite : they are three feet long, two mches broad, and their entire numher amounts 
generally to IGO. AH the plants which I saw were dicecious, the males always being more robust, and their 
trunks more erect and higher, than the females. The inflorescence of both emits a most penetrating 
almond-like smell. The inflorescence of the male plant is a simple, fleshy, cylindrical spadix, which has 
three or four spathes, the flowers of which are densely crowded together, and sessile. They are generally 
furnished with a small bract, and a calyx consisting of three sepals. The stamens are numerous (thirty- 
six), the filaments filiform, the anthers linear, erect, affixed nearly at the base, and bilocular ; the con- 
* At the Great Industrial Exhibition in Hyde Park, the nuts were exhibited by R. Fauntleroy and 
Sons, sub Class 4, No. 135, under the names of " Corozo" or " Corusco ;" and Archer (Popular Economic 
Botany, p. 296, 1st edit.) says : " How these names originated is a mystery, as the Indiana call the Palm 
by the names PuUipxinta and Homero." It is indeed a mystery; but not as the Indians call the Palm 
" Pullipunta" and " Homero " (for those appellations are only used in very hmited districts), hut as the 
name "Corozo," of which Comsco is evidently a corruption, is generally confined to certain oil-palma, of 
the central parts of America, belonging to the genera Attalea, JElais, and Bactris. — B. S. 
