Vol. V. No. 109. 



THE AGKICULTUEAL NEWS. 



19T 



SCIENCE NOTES. 



Baobab Tree. 



The baobab or monkey bread tree (Adansonia digitata) 

 is a member of the natural order Malvaceae, which contains 

 also the silk cotton tree, as well as cotton, okra, hibiscus, and 

 other useful and ornamental plants. This plant is a native 

 of tropical Africa, and has been introduced into most tropical 

 countries. Specimens are to be seen in most of the West 

 India Islands. 



It is one of the largest trees in the world, although 

 it does not grow to a height in proportion to the immense 

 size of its trunk, which sometimes attains a diameter of 

 30 feet. The fruit, which is a hard-shelled woody capsule 

 is borne on long pendent stalks. The capsule contains 

 a number of cells each filled with a pulpy substance in 

 which the seeds are embedded. The slightly acid pulp is 

 often eaten, while the juice expressed from it has a medicinal 

 value. The pounded leaves are used as a check to excessive 

 perspiration. From the bark a strong fibre is obtained 

 which is used for making ropes. 



The Cocoa-nut Flower. 



In the Agricultural Newa (Vol. IV, p. 71) a description 

 was given of the structure of the fruit of the cocoa-nut palm 

 {Cocos niccifera) and of the germination of the seed. The 

 accompanying illustration (fig. 8) shows the inflorescence of 



branching from a central axis. The branches bear, through- 

 out the greater part of their length, numerous small male 

 fiowers and near their base a single female flower much 

 larger than the male. The flowers are enclosed in a tough,, 

 pointed sheath (known as the spathe), 3 or 4 feet in length. 

 The spathe, as shown in the figure, splits on the lower side. 

 The flowers give rise to bunches containing twelve to- 

 twenty fruits. 



Fig. 8. Flowers and Fruits of the Cocoa-nut. 

 (From The Booh of Trinidad.) 



this palm. The yellowish-white flowers, from which the nuts 

 are produced are arranged in spikes, 5 or 6 feet^ long, 



Coco-de mer or Double Cocoa-nut. 



Several specimens of this interesting palm are to be 

 found in West Indian Botanic Stations, having been obtained 

 from the Seychelles. A note published in the Agricultural 

 News (Vol. Ill, p. 429) indicates some of the uses to 

 which the nuts are devoted. 



Mr. George V. Nash contributes an interesting note on 

 the coco-de-mer to the January issue of the Journal of the^ 

 New York Botanical Garden, of which the following is a 

 brief summary : — 



This palm is commonly known as Lodoicea sechellarum, 

 but it is claimed that L. maldivica is the earlier name and 

 should take precedence. 



In the Seychelles, in the eighteenth centur}', this un- 

 known fruit was, on account of its obscurity, accredited 

 with most wonderful properties and given ' a worth far in 

 excess of its intrin.sic value. It was averred that it was not 

 a product of the earth but of the sea, and the Malay and 

 Chinese sailors insisted that it grew on a tree deep in the 

 water ofi^ the coast of Sumatra, but that the tree instantly 

 disappeared when they dived down to see it. 



Not only did these tales serve to bring the fruit into 

 notice, but its reputed value as an antidote to poisons made 

 its acquisition greatly to be desired by the princes of 

 Hindoostan who were constantly in fear of being made 

 victims of some wily poisoner. They firmly believed that 

 water which had been kept in one of these fruits was purified 

 from all harm and could be drunk with impunity, no matter 

 how active may have been the poison jjlaced in the liquid. 

 But in 17-1:3, upon the discovery of the tree which bore these 

 fruits, this value and repute quickly subsided. 



The palm is said to grow upon three of the islands of 

 the Seychelles, occurring in ail parts of them, the best trees 

 growing in deep gorges. One such gorge on the island of 

 Praslin is known as the Ravine of the Coco-de-mer, and is 

 said to be one of the most beautiful spots in tropical climes, 

 the trunks of these charming palms rising to a height of 90 

 or 100 feet, and bearing aloft a crown of magnificent 

 fan-shaped leaves often 20 feet long and 10 or 12 feet wide. 



The many economic uses of this palm make it of 

 exceeding value to the natives of the Seychelles. The heart 

 of the crown of leaves is eaten as a vegetable, as is done with 

 the cabbage palm. The leaves, perhaps, are the most 

 important, being used extensively in house building, not only 

 for thatching but also for making walls and partitions ; and 

 the down of the young leaves is used in filling mattresses and 

 pillows. The nuts are made into utensils of various kinds, 

 and the young leaves furnish material for making hats. 



A remarkable feature of this tree is the length of time 

 required to mature its fruit, ten or twelve years being^ 

 necessary for this. The fruits are oblong in shape and weigh 

 from 30 to 50 lb., and as sometimes ten of these occur in 

 a bunch, the aggregate weight of such a cluster is con.sider- 

 able. Upon the removal of the outer husk the two oblong 

 nuts are exposed to view, firmly united ; it is this character 

 which has given the name of ' double cocoa-nut ' to the tree. - 



