ARALS. 36 ARADS, 2 
Head of the spadix warted; style distinct ; spathe sessile ; petioles very rough 
Habitat. Tropical parts of Asia. 
Quality. Acrid, caustic ; abounds in starch. 
Uses. Employed as an external stimulant ; also as an emmenagogue. 
DIerrenBacuta. Schott. 
Spathe convolute. Spadix covered all over with flowers ; male above 
female below. Anthers opening by pores. Ovaries 1-celled, with a 
single erect ovule, and surrounded at the base by 3 clavate processes. 
1. D. seguina Schott. Arwn seguinum Linneus.—(Domp Cans.) 
An arborescent plant ; stem cylindrical, with ringed scars; leaves oblong- 
ovate, with a stout rib; spathe green. 
Habitat. West Indies. 
Quality. Juice extremely acrid and venemous, 
Uses. A dangerous poison; produces dumbness when chewed. 
THE PALMAL ALLIANCE (V. K., p. 133.) 
Natural Order, Balms; Palmacece (V. K., p. 133.) 
Prevailing Quality. Nutritious, saccharine, 
Penix. Linneus. 
Leaves pinnate. Flowers dicecious. 
Petals imbrieated in the fe- 
males. Ovaries3. Fruita 
fleshy one-seeded false drupe. 
1. P. dactylifera Linneus. (The 
Date Pata.) Fig. 67. 
Leaves glaucous; leaflets lanceolate 
acuminate, very much closed 
up, the uppermost shorte 
fruit oblong, in large bunch 
Habitat. North of Africa. : 
Quality. Fruit highly nutritious and 
Sweet, 
Uses. Dried fruit, a common artic 
food, 
Sacus. Rumphius. 
Leaves pinnated, Flowers mon 
cious.  Spadix branche 
without any common spathe, 
but with numerous i 
ones. Fruit hard, shining 
its surface divided into nume- 
or Saco Par. 
= Ss SS 
— Petioles and spathes un 
Fig. 67.—Sketch of Phenix dactylifera. a 
