MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 151 
Desert the fruit serves as the most common food not only 
for the natives but also for the cattle, while the huts and the 
houses are constructed from the wood of the tree. The cul- 
ture of the date runs back to antiquity. It was emblematic 
of the Jewish people, Jerico being known as the city of palm 
trees. The sant is remarkable for its endurance of condi- 
tions that make most crop plants impossible. It will thrive 
in alkaline soil so salty that no other crop plant can grow, 
and will stand a slight frost. The yield of fruit from a 
single tree reaches as much as 130 pounds. Commercial 
growing of the trees is being attempted in the desert regions 
of the southwestern United States. 
Phoenix paludosa. Palmae.—aA reclining palm growing 
to a height of 25 feet, native of the sea-shore of tropical Asia. 
Phoenix pumila. Palmae.—A slender, graceful palm 
6-10 feet high, with leaves 10-16 feet long, recurved, 
drooping. 
Phoenix reclinata. Palmae.— An ornamental palm of 
tropical South Africa. The stems are 3-4 feet long and 
reclining. The fruits are black and edible. 
Phoenix Roebelenii. Palmae.—A native of India and 
the most used by the florists as a decorative plant among 
the Phoenix. The stems are short, tufted with subglaucous 
leaves. This is the smallest of the Phoenix and is exceptional 
for the elegance and soft texture of the bright green leaves. 
Phoenix rupicola. Palmae—aA native of Sikhim, India. 
The stems are 15-20 feet high, solitary, slender, with 
maa leaves 10 feet long. The numerous bright green, 
ecurved leaflets are peculiar to this palm. It will stand the 
hottest sunshine without losing color and will bear much 
neglect when used as a house plant. 
Phoenix sylvestris. Palmae.— A native palm of India, 
where it reaches a height of 40 feet. Sugar is obtained from 
the evaporation of the sap which flows from incisions made 
in the upper part of the trunk. The process does not de- 
stroy the palm, the sap being drawn for 50 years. A kind 
of arrack is made by the fermentation and distillation of the 
sap. :The leaves are used for mats. 
Pithecocteniwm muricatum. Bignoniaceae.—A climber, 
native of Mexico. The plant is cultivated for its racemes of 
large trumpet-like, white flowers. 
Pritchardia Gaudichaudii. Palmae.—A svineless palm of 
the Hawaiian Islands, reaching a height of 20 feet. The 
