30 TEINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XX. 1. ' 



Diplothemium caudescens. Wax Palm. Brazil. 



An erect pahu, stem 12 to 20 feet hif^h and about 10 inches in 

 diameter. Leaves pinnate. Segments numerouslj' arranged opposite 

 each other, the middle ones about 2 feet in length with the upper and 

 lower ones shorter, under surface densely glaucous, and the apex obtuse. 



Elaeis guineensis. Oil Palm. Tropical Africa. 



A most important economic palm with a stout, erect stem 40 to 

 50 feet in height crowned with a dense head of leaves. Leaves shiny, 

 pinnate with more or less drooping leaflets, and petioles armed with 

 stout spines. Male and female flowei's are usually borne on distinct 

 spikes and generally on diti'erent trees, tlie latter bearing dense heads 

 of orange yellow fruits. 



From the Heshy fibrous outer layer of the fruit, the well known 

 palm oil is obtamed which is chiefly used in soap and candle making. 

 " Nut oil" is a white oil expressed from the kei-nels and used for making 

 margarine etc. The cake aftf.r the oil has been extracted is a good 

 cattle food. 



Guilichna spccioaa. Peachnut. Pewa. Pupunha. Venezuela and Guiana. 

 An erect palm with a slender trunk covered with bands of spines of 

 varying length alternating with the leaf scars. Height 20 to 80 feet, 

 leaves pinnate. Leaflets and petioles spiny. Fruit borne in dense 

 clusters and about the size of apricots, reddish yellow in colour, 

 buckers are produced freely* from the base of the plant. 



The fruits are eaten boiled with salt or roasted, and the kernel has a 

 sweet nutty flavour. 



Hijilriastclc Wcndlandiana. Tropical Australia. 



In general appearance not miiike Arcca Catechu, but can bo 

 readily recognized from that plant by its much smaller, round, scarlet 

 fruit, which arc a little larger than peas. The seed is ribbed 

 longitudinally. 



Hijophorhe Verschaffcltii. Mauritius, 



Slcm smooth 20 to SO feet high aiul S to 12 inches in diameter. 

 Leaves piimate and arching 4 to 6 feet in length with petioles only a 

 few inches long. The top of the trunk is encircled for a distance of 

 several feet with the green leaf sheaths. Fruit oval, about half an inch 

 in length, purple when ripe. 



Latania Loddir;csii. Mauiitius. 



A handsome palm witli an irregular stem 10 to 12 inches in diameter 

 tisually swollen at the base. Leaves palmate glaucous, giving the whole 

 plant a greyish appeai-ance. Petioles covered with a brownish scurfy 

 substance and divided at the base. Staminate and pistillate flowers 

 borne on different plants, the former being long and pendant, the latter 

 denser and more erect, producing pear-shapL-d nuit. 



Liciiala grandis. Piound-leaved Pahn. New Biitain. 



A handsome, shade loving palm of low growih, with bright green 

 fan-shaped leaves. Petioles anuud with short stout spines. Tlic seeds 

 aro about the size of peas. 



