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Palmettos have been described in a preceding article. Those of 

 the Thrinaxes are Dright mahogany led in color, and are covered 

 with a thick, silvery wool, which masks the true color of the 

 slender, matted fibers (see fig. 1). The sheaths are relatively 

 large, and clasp the stem instead of hanging loose like those of 

 the cocoanut. 



Fig. 2. 



The characteristics of the leaves of the various Thrinaxes may 

 be used to identify them. The following key is given by Mr. 

 Tared G. Smith, now of Kona, Hawaii, in Bailey's Cyclopedia of 

 American Horticulture. Mr. Smith has made an exhaustive and 

 technical study of the palms, and his articles have been the source 

 of much of the data given in this non-technical series. Mr. 

 Smith's key to the ornamental species of Thrinax has been slightly 

 modified. 



