SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



533 



consistence, cellulose being stored as a reserve material ; the endosperm is 

 ruminated, i.e. the dark seed-coat grows into it at many points and gives it a 

 veined appearance. The fruit of the Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is also a 

 berry, but this arises from one of the carpels of the apocarpous gynaeceum, the 

 other two not developing. In contrast to the other genera mentioned, Phoenix 



irt I'alins at Hiln. Hawaii : 1'niiiliiiuix 



ill front of the Palni.s 



is dioecious. Other important economic plants among the Palms are Elaeis 

 yuineensis, the African Oil Palm, species of Calamus which yield Malacca Cane, 

 and species of Afttroxylon, from which Sago is obtained ; the two latter are found 

 in the Asiatic-Australian region of the tropics. Phytelephas macrocarpa, an 

 American Palm which does not form a trunk, yields vegetable ivory (the hard 

 endosperm). Several species yield a flow of sugary sap on cutting off the 

 inflorescence, and this is sometimes fermented to make Palm-wine, sometimes used 

 as a source of cane-sugar (Arenya mccharifera). 



2 M 2 



