PALMAR 



483 



genous storage-material taking the form of cellulose, deposited upon 

 the cell walls. In germ, the cot. lengthens and pushes out the radicle, 

 and then the plumule grows out of the sheathing cotyledon. 



Diagrams of Raphia (after Eichler). Above, the arrangement of the last branches 

 of infl. a, b, two of the sterile sheathing bracts, above them bracts with branches in 

 their axils, a little out of the median line. Below, arrangement of the flowers on 

 branches of upper figure : bracts 2-ranked ; each fl. has a 2-keeled bracteole v. 



Economically, the P. are very important, furnishing many of the 

 necessaries of life in the tropics, &c. Many have ed. fr. or seed, e.g. 

 date (Phoenix) and coco-nut (Cocos) ; the stems contain much starch 

 as reserve food, esp. in those sp. which save up for a great terminal 

 infl. , e.g. Metroxylon (sago), Caryota, &c. ; the rush of sap to the infl., 

 esp. in the cases just mentioned, is great; and by tapping the stem 

 great quantities of sugar-containing fluid may be obtained and utilised, 

 either directly as a source of sugar or indirectly to make intoxicating 

 drinks by fermentation. The bud of 1. at the top of the stem is some- 

 times used as cabbage, but of course its removal kills the tree. The 

 stems are used in building, but do not yield plank-timber; the 1. in 

 thatching and basket-making, and for hats, mats, &c. ; the fibres of the 

 leaf-sheaths or sometimes of the pericarp (e.g. Cocos) are used for ropes, 

 &c. ; other P. furnish oil from the seed (e.g. Elaeis, Cocos), wax 

 (Coperm'cia), vegetable ivory (Phytelephas, &c.), betel-nuts (Areca), 

 &c. [Cf. Baillon, Hist, des PI. xin. 283.] 



Classification and chief genera (after Drude) : 

 A. Perianth 6-partite, enclosing the fruit after fertilisation. 

 I. COR YPHOIDEAE (spadix loosely branched, often a pro- 

 lix panicle ; fls. single or in long rows flowering from above ; 



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