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General Botany 



Fig. 331. A tropical climbing aroid {Monstera) in bloom. Note the white spathe which 

 incloses the spike (spadix) of flowers. Behind the flower can be seen a ripe fruit. Most 

 members of this family are tropical, but jack-in-the-pulpit and skunk cabbage are familiar 

 representatives. 



The palm family (Palmaceae). The most familiar mark of a 

 tropical landscape is the presence of palms, with their tall un- 

 branched stems, topped with a rosette of large divided leaves. 

 Some palms attain a height of 150 feet, others have only a short, 

 upright rootstock, while a few, like the rattans, are climbing vines 

 several hundred feet in length. They are for the most part 

 intolerant of shade, and consequently occur along streams, in 

 clearings, on forest borders, and in oases in deserts. In addition 

 to their edible fruits — dates, coconuts, palm nuts — they are im- 

 portant sources of fibers, oils, wax, starch, sugar, and alcohol. 

 The leaves are used in thatching, in basket making, and in weav- 

 ing mats and hats. Vegetable ivory is derived from a palm nut. 

 The woody stems do not yield plank timber, because of the 

 scattered bundles. The palms include 130 genera and about 1200 

 species. 



