722 THE FLORA OF NORFOLK ISLAND, 



with annular scars, left by the fallen leaves. The leaves or fronds form a 

 princely crest at the top of this elegant column; they are pectinate, or formed 

 like a feather, and are sometimes nineteen feet in length; they vary from 

 nine to fifteen in number. The apex of the trunk is enclosed in the sheath- 

 ing bases of the leaf-stalks, along with the flower buds, and young leaves. 

 When the leaves fall they discover double compressed sheaths, pointed at the 

 upper extremity, which split open indiscriminately, on the upper or under 

 side, and fall off, leaving a branched spadix, or flower-stem, which is the 

 colour of ivory, and attached by a broad base to the trunk. The flowers are 

 produced upon this spadix; they are very small, and are succeeded by round 

 seeds, red externally, but white, and as hard as horn, internally. As the 

 seeds advance towards maturity, the spadix becomes green. The young, 

 unfolded leaves of the Cabbage-tree, rise perpendicularly, in the centre of the 

 crest. In this state they are used for making brooms; those still unprotruded 

 and remaining enclosed within the sheaths of the older leaves, form a white 

 mass, as thick as a man's arm; they are eaten raw, boiled, or pickled. In a 

 raw state, they taste like a nut, and boiled they resemble artichoke bottoms. 

 The seeds furnish food for the Wood-quest, a large species of pigeon " 



(Backhouse, 264). 



PANDANE^. 



Pandayius Moorei, F.v.M., in Tate's List. — There is no Pmi- 

 danus on the Island, and the mistake has probably arisen through 

 assuming that the name "Screw Pine," freely used, refers to a 

 Pandanus. P. Moorei,F.v.M.^ recorded originally from Lord Howe 

 Island, has no separate existence. I have dealt with the matter 

 at some length — these Proceedings, 1898, p. 141. 



129. Freycinetia Baueriana, Endl., Prod. Norf. 63. — " Screw 

 Pine" of the islanders; called also "Palm" and "Palm Lily." 

 Following is Backhouse's account of this plant. The base of 

 the fructification is eaten and is described to me as tasting like a 

 banana. 



" One of the remarkable vegetable productions of this island is Freycinetia 

 Baueriana, or the N. I. Grass Tree. ... Its stem is marked by rings, 

 where the old leaves have fallen off, and is an inch and a half in diameter; 

 it lies on the ground, or climbs like ivy, or winds round the trunks of trees. 

 The branches are crowned with crests of broad, sedge-like leaves. From the 

 centre of these arise clusters of three or four oblong, red, pulpy fruit, four 

 inches in length, and as much in circumference. When the plant is in 

 flower the centre leaves are scarlet, giving a splendid appearance to the 

 plant, which sometimes is seen twining round the trunk of the princely Tree- 

 fern " (Backhouse, 256). 



