280 



from the kernel by expression. The juice which flows from the wounded 

 spathes of Palms, especially of Cocos nucifera, is known in India by the name 

 of Toddy. Independently of the grateful qualities of this fluid as a beverage, 

 it is found to be the simplest and easiest remedy that can be employed for re- 

 moving constipation in persons of delicate habit, especially European females. 

 Jiinslie, 1. 451. Palm oil is chiefly obtained from Elais guineensis, and this 

 tree is also said to yield the best kind of Palm-wine. The succulent rind of 

 the Date is one of the most agreeable of fruits. Sago is yielded by the trunk 

 of nearly all, except Areca Catechu, but especially of Sagus farinifera and 

 Phoenix farinifera. The well known Betel Nut is the fruit of Areca Catechu, 

 and remarkable for its narcotic or intoxicating power ; from the same fruit is 

 prepared a kind of spurious Catechu. Ibid. 1. 65. The Brazilian Indians, 

 especially the Puris, Patachos, and Botocudos, manufacture their best bows 

 from the wood of a species of Cocoa Nut, called the Airi, or Brejeuba. Pr. 

 J\fax. Trav. 238. The Ceroxylon andicola, or Wax Palm of Humboldt, has 

 its trunk covered by a coating of wax, which exudes from the spaces between 

 the insertion of the leaves. It is, according to Vauquelin, a concrete inflamma- 

 ble substance, consisting of l-3d wax and 2-3ds resin. It is a very remarka- 

 ble fact, first noticed by Mr. Brown (Congo, 456.), that the plants of this or- 

 der whose fruit affords oil belong to a tribe called by him Cocoinea, which are 

 particularly characterized by the originally trilocular putamen having its cells 

 when fertile perforated opposite the seat of the embryo, and when abortive indi- 

 cated by foramina ceeca. The dark-coloured inodorous and insipid resin, 

 called Dragon's Blood, is obtained in the eastern islands of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago by wounding the Calamus Drabo ; it is said to be of finer quality than 

 that procured from Pterocarpus. 



Examples. The following are Von Martius's sections of the tribe. (Pro- 

 gramma, p. 7.) 



1. Sabalin^e. Spathes numerous, incomplete. Ovarium 3-celled. Berry 

 or Drupe 1-3-seeded. (Chamaedorea, Thrinax.) # 



2. Coryphin^. Spathes numerous, incomplete. Pistils 3, cohering in- 

 wardly, 1 only usually ripening. Berry or Drupe many-seeded. (Rhapis, 

 Phoenix.) 



3. Lepidocarta. Spathes numerous, incomplete. Flowers in catkins. 

 Ovarium 3-celled. Berry 1-ceeded, with a tesselated rind. (Mauritia, 

 Calamus.) 



4. Borasse^e. Spathes many, incomplete. Flowers in catkins. Ovarium 

 3-celled. Berry or drupe 3-seeded. (Borassus, Hyphame.) 



5. Arecinte. Spatha none, or one or more, complete. Ovarium 3-celled. 

 Berry 1-ceeded. (Leopoldinia, Areca, Wallichia.) 



6. CocoiNiE. Spatha one, or several, complete. Ovarium 3-celled. Drupe 

 1-3-seeded. (Cocos, Elate, Bactris.) 



CCLIII. RESTIACEiE. 



Restiaceje, R. Brown Prodr. 243. (1810); Kunth in Humb. N. G. ct Sp. I. 251. (1815); 

 Agardh Aph. 156. (1823), a sect, of Juncere ; Ach. Rich. Nouv. Kl'tm. ed. 4. 424. (1828) ; 

 Lindl. Synops. 272. (1829).— Vis STnoLr.p id ek and Eriocaulone>e, Dcsvaux inAnndcs 

 So. 13. 36. (1828).— Elegies, licauv.in eod. loc. (1828.) 



Diagnosis. Hexapetaloideous monocotyledons, with a superior ovarium, 

 axile placentae, capsular fruit, capitate glumaceous flowers, and an embryo 

 lying on the albumen at the end most remote from the hilum. 



