179 



been planted in rows of single sjjeeies, or more generally as isolated 

 plants with a view to their de\'eloping into worthy representatives 

 of their species. On the whole this latter ideal has heen attained 

 and a few very fine specimens might be mentioned such as, AifaJea 

 Cohiinr, Mart., near the lake, Corypha Gehanga, BL, near the Her- 

 harium. a young plant of Latania Coinmersonii, L., near the Office, 

 and two very tall s])ecimei]s of Livistona aliis.si)na, ZolL, on the 

 Bandstand Hill, and many s])ecimens of Oncospernia filarneniosa, 

 Bl. (Xibong) and EJaeis guincendx, Jaccj. Altogether there are 

 about 1085 specinuMis planted in the Gardens embracing upwards 

 of VZi) species aiul (iO genera. 



A C'o.Mi'Aiusox OF (Ikxekal C'iiai;actei;s. 



'The variation in growth of the ])alms allows tliem to be 

 grouped under tJiree lieads: — 



( 1 ) Tliose M'hicli are soholiferous, that is whose stems groAV 

 in clumps such as Caryoia mitis, Lour., Cyrtoslacln/s 

 Jjiklia, Becc, (Jncosjx'rwa filamentom, Bl. 



(2) 'J'liose whicli are soboliferous but are not self-supporting, 

 obtaining their su])port from surrounding trees. This 

 section includes the many species of Cahuiivs, Korfhnlsia 

 and Daeinonorops, and amongst whicb are many plants of 

 considerable economic importance. (Some grow to a great 

 height, topping the highest of our jungle trees. Ex- 

 amples may be seen in the piece of virgin jungle pre- 

 served in the gardens, especially at the top em] of Maranta 

 Avenue. 



(3) Those palms wliich are single-stemmed, bearing in some 

 cases a magnificent crown of leaves as in Coryijlia. or in 

 other cases a comparatively small one as in the tall 

 Liristonas, and Arch onto phoenix Alexandra, Wendl. 



A ])Escini>Ti()x OF Palms ix (4exeral. 



EooT. 'Oenerally speaking palms have no tap-roots. After 

 germination the primary root ]jerishes and is replaced l)y adven- 

 titious roots s])ringing from the hase of the stem. In Versdiaf- 

 feltia. spJendida, Wendl., roots are produced \ip to 'Z or 15 ft., and 

 even more ahove the surface of t]ie ground. T'hese grow down- 

 wards and finally liecome fixed in the soil giving the plant a firm 

 footing. In otliers such as Rhapis, and Pinanga. suckers are pro- 

 ducked whicli send uj) stems and leaves, soon forming fi)U' clunrj)s. 



Stem. The height oi- leniith of the stem varies consideral)ly 

 and in some cases there is hai'dly any stem at all as in Sabal 

 <icaul\'S. In others however, they may be of any height or length, 

 some specimens of Calamus being as mudi as 3(M) ft. Except for 

 the last mentioned, no specimen in the Gardens exceeds (Si) ft., 

 this height being attained by two specimens of Livistona altisslma, 

 Zoll., on the Bandstand Hill. As a general rule single-stemmed 

 palms attain to a greater height than solwliferous or several-stem- 

 med palms. In diameter stems vary considerahly, from 1-2 inches 



