LE COCOTIER DE MER DES II.KS SEYCHELLE8 2(>1 



« forty pounds (18 kilos). Sucliclusters are however very rare. 

 « and i or Smaybe taken as the averaee number on one stalk, 



« From the fructification tofull maturity a period of nearlv 

 « 10 years elapse. The fruit attains its full size in about i 

 « years and is then soft, and t'ull of semi-transparent jelly- 

 « like substance of an insipid sweelish taste. The mesocarp 

 <( is a leathery substance of a brownish green colour adhe- 

 « ring to the shell. As the nut ripens, tins gradually dries 

 « up into a white hornv kernel, about 1/2 an inch (1 centi- 

 « mètre) in thickness and of no use whatever, supposed to be 

 « poisonous, but, probably only quite indigestible. The nut in 

 « its perfect state is about IS inches (45 centimètres) long 

 « and of the saine breadth, somelhing in the shape of a heart 

 « with two separate compartments. It is enveloped like the 

 « cocoa-nut in a fibrous husk; but its texture is not nearlv 

 « so thick or so strong, and it drops olî soon after tlie nut 

 « falls from the tree. The nuts sawn in half and divested of 

 « the kernel form excellent calabashes, and are universally 

 « used for baling btoas. The entire nut is frequently used as 

 « a water-keg and holds 3 or i gallons (13 1/2 à 18 litres of 

 « water. It has however to be « caulked » in the centre, 

 « where germination takes place, before it becomes com- 

 « pletely watér-tight. 



« The arrangements provided by nature for the roots of 

 « both maie and female trees are of a most peculiar nature, 

 « quite distinct from those provided for anv other known 

 « tree. The base of the trunk is of a bulbous form and tins 

 « bull) lits into a natural bowl or socket, about 2 and 1/2 

 « feet in diameter (0 m 755) and 18 inches m 45) in depth, 

 « narrowing towards the bottom. Tins bowl is pierced with 

 « hundreds of small oval holes about the size ofa thimble 

 « (0"'O|.") with hollow tubes corresponding on the outside 

 « through which the roots pénétra te the ground on ;ill sides, 

 « never, however, becoming attached to the bowl: theirpar- 

 <- liai elasticity aifording an almost imperceptible bul very 

 « necessary « play » to the parent stem when struggling 

 « against the force of violent gales. Tins bowl is of the sa me 



