8 SKETCH OF THE 



The geographical distribution of Palms is not particularly interest- 

 ing, as these trees are almost equally diffused throughout the Tropics. 

 More than half are found within the first ten degrees of latitude, above 

 and bplow the equator. Of the 582 known species, 307 inhabit the 

 Old World, and 275 the New. M. Martius takes the opportunity to 

 append a map of fifty-one regions, into which he divides the whole 

 world, as regards its Botany ; and in another map, adorned with alle- 

 gorical designs, he exhibits the distribution of Palms, in about half 

 these regions, with deeper and paler tints, according to the greater or 

 less number of the species. In reference to the distribution of seeds, 

 he discusses the probable origin of the Cocoa-nut Palm {Cocos nucifera), 

 and shows that the islands of Western Equatorial America, and espe- 

 cially those islets termed the Cocos group, are probably the starting- 

 point of a tree which had been deemed of Asiatic origin. I have myself 

 adopted this opinion, and support it by new reasons in my most recent 

 work upon Botanical Geography. The second volume is devoted to a 

 detailed description of the Brazilian species. In the third the author 

 considers the whole Family, its characters, synonyms, the locality and 

 habits of every species, genus, and division of Palms. A more complete 

 monograph hardly exists. The observations on certain remarkable 

 species, as the Palmetto (Chamcerops humilis), the Date (Phoenix dacty- 

 lifera), are extensive, learned, and interesting. 



These large and important publications on descriptive Botany did not 

 seem to satisfy Martius completely ; and they certainly have their draw- 

 backs, in the tardy progress which is inseparable from their heavy 

 expense and numerous plates ; besides their being restricted to certain 

 genera aud families. It was, no doubt, in M. de Martius 5 option to 

 select the most novel and interesting kinds ; but while thus occupied, 

 the majority of his plants remained unexamined in the herbarium ; and 

 other botanists were engaged in publishing the plants of Brazil. M. de 

 Martius accordingly began a Flora, in octavo, of all Brazilian species, 

 consisting of descriptions, without plates, and comprising not only his 

 own discoveries, but the Herbaria of Sellow and of the Prince of 

 Neuwied, and other travellers. The second volume, which related to 

 the Grasses, was promptly and ably edited by Nees von Esenbeck, and 

 included a chapter by Martius on the distribution of the Graminece in 

 Brazil, and remarks on their economic uses, principally on the origin, 

 cultivation, and employment of the Sugar-cane. The first volume on 



