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OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



In low ground may be seen large clumps of the "Nibong" 

 (Qncoaperma horrida), a beautiful palm with slender trunk and 

 graceful feathery leaves, but with an armor of formidable spines 

 that effectually protects it. One of the most beautiful of the 

 Malayan palms is the " sealing-wax " palm (Cyrtostachys Lacca), 

 whose smooth sheathing leaf-bases are a vivid vermilion scarlet. 



A B 



Fig. 57. — Lowland vegetation, Malay Peninsula. 

 A. Palms (Oncosperma sp.). B. Ferns (Gleichenia linearis). 



Many species of palms, aside from the coconut which is every- 

 where cultivated, are very important both for food, and for many 

 constructive purposes, e. g., cordage, thatch and timber. 



The sugar-palm (Arenga saccharifera) is one of the most striking 

 species, with immense pinnate leaves, 25 feet or more in length. 

 Its sap yields an excellent sugar, but is commonly fermented to 

 form palm-wine. Another wine-palm is Caryota wrens. The 

 genus Caryota has about ten species in the Indo-Malayan regions, 



