THE PIvANT WORLD 83 



in the same flower ; monoecious, or with the two in different inflorescences 

 on the same plant, or in different parts of the same inflorescence ; or 

 dioecious, with the two borne on different individuals. The sepals and 

 petals are commonly three each, and the stamens usually double that 

 number, or in some few cases as high as fifty. The fruit is dry, berry-like, 

 or a drupe. 



The entire family, comprising about 1,100 species and 140 genera, 

 may, in a general sense, be called tropical, for only relatively few species 

 pass beyond the tropics into subtropical or temperate regions. The 

 greatest development has been reached in America, Asia and Australia 

 having relatively but few, and the representation in Africa being even 

 more meager. 



Economically the value of the palms can hardly be estimated, for 

 there is scarcely an essential of life in tropical regions which can not be 

 supplied by some member of this royal family of plants. They vie with 

 the grasses in importance to mankind. Articles of food and drink ; 

 materials for the manufacture of all kinds of household utensils ; fabrics 

 for the making of ropes, lines and clothing ; materials for house-build- 

 ing, and other uses too numerous to mention are filled by many of 

 these plants. In civilized lands they take an important place in our 

 decorations, adding much of beauty and grace, and the love of them 

 and their culture has been the cause of the bringing together of many 

 collections. 



In the Garden collection, the palm which will first attract attention 

 upon entering the large palm house by the southerly door and bearing to 

 the right will be the large specimen of Caryota tirens, the wine or toddy 

 palm, standing to the left and towering well above all its neighbors. 

 To the left of the Caryota is another noteworthy palm, Phoetiicophorijini 

 Sechellarzmi , a native of the Seychelles Islands, .as its specific name 

 indicates. Immediately in front of this is a specimen some 15 feet tall 

 of Coccothrinax argentea, the broom palm, from the Isthmus of Panama, 

 and in the immediate vicinity are smaller plants of a closely-related 

 species from Trinidad, C. radiata, which is much more common in 

 cultivation ; and also a third species, C. juainda, known only from 

 southern Florida, from whence it was but recently imported, and very 

 rare in cultivation, will be found nearby. The leaves of C. argentea 

 are used in the manufacture of brooms and baskets and other kinds of 

 wicker ware. Close at hand is a small plant of a species widely spread 

 throughout India and Malaysia. Its economic importance is the only 

 excuse for alluding to it here, as the plant is as yet too young to show 

 character. This is the betel-nut palm, Areca Catec/m, which has been 

 in cultivation a very long time, and as a result many varieties have been 

 produced, each having its native and local name. It attains a height of 



