18 



times manufactured from the slender and symmetrically marked 

 trunks. The Latin word baculum means a small walking-stick. 

 These palms are indigenous to temperate and tropical Australia. 



The trunk is either single, or there may be a number of stems 

 growing closely together (fasciculate), resembling the mode of 

 growth of the algaroba tree when it grows in dense thickets. 

 This fasciculate growth may be also compared to the clump 

 habit of the bamboos, and of certain wine palms. The segments 

 of the leaves are membranous in texture, and are split or toothed 

 at their apices ; the broader segments have many veins, the nar- 

 rower ones have but a single vein ; the segments at the free end 

 of the leaf are confluent or apparently fused together. The mar- 

 gins of the leaf-segments are not especially thickened ; at the base 

 of the segment these margins are recurved. The petiole and mid- 

 rib of the leaf is covered with a sparse scurfy layer ; on the under 

 side they are convex in cross-section, on the upper side, flat, or 

 concave near the base of the leaf. 



The flowers are greenish; the fruit is small, being but ^4-/^2 

 inch in length, is elongate-ovoid in shape, and is greenish in color. 

 The above characteristics apply to ail the cane palms. There are 

 several species (for original descriptions see F. Mueller, Fragm. 

 Phyt. Austral., Vol. VII, page 103), the one occurring in Hono- 

 lulu being, in all probability, Daculana monostachya. 



This palm is planted as an ornamental in a number of Honolulu 

 yards. The accompanying illustration is of a thriving plant in a 

 yard on Emma street, opposite Emma Square. This species has 

 a trunk 6-12 feet high, and leaves l>'2-4 feet long. The sheath 

 that occurs at the base of each leaf is broad, leathery in texture, 

 and about six inches long. The leaf-segments are very irregular 

 in shape and in distance ai)art. Their tips are sharp pointed ; 

 their bases are eitlier fastened directly to the midrib of the leaf, 

 or are somewhat tapering ; the longest segments are about one 

 foot long. 



The fruit of tliis species is ovoid or sometimes nearly glubidar 

 in shape; is about one-half incii long; anrl consists of a hard seed 

 covered by a rather thin, succulent outer layer. 



The foliage of the cane palms is of a very attractive shade of 

 green, and is graceful in outline. The seeds germinate fairly 

 well if planted in pots or flats on raised benches, and the young 

 seedlings have no sj)ecial ])ests or difficulties. There is no reason 

 why these small and l)cautiful palms sliould not be more widely 

 planted and better known. IVcause of their small size they will 

 fit into many parts of a jjlanting scheme where larger palms could 

 not be used, as is illustrated by the specimen figured. It is grow- 

 ing close to and screening a lanai otherwise open to the street. 

 The cane palms deserve better acquaintance. 



