PALM^E. (palms.) 461 



Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONOUS or ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. 



Stems composed of cellular tissue and scattered bundles 

 of woody fibre and vessels, destitute of proper pith, bark, or 

 concentric layers, and increasing in diameter by the d-eposi- 

 tion of new fibrous bundles. Leaves mostly alternate, en- 

 tire, and parallel-veined, commonly sheathing at the base, 

 seldom falling off by an articulation. Floral envelopes usu- 

 ally by threes. Cotyledons single. 



Order 136. PALM^. (Palms.) 



Chiefly trees, with a thick woody stem (caudex), growing by a ter- 

 minal bud, pinnate or fan-shaped leaves, which are plaited in the bud, 

 and a spadix of small perfect or polygamous flowers. Sepals and 

 petals 3, free or more or less united, persistent. Stamens mostly (J, 

 hypogynous or perigynous: anthers 2-celled, introrse. Ovary 1-3- 

 celled, commonly with a single erect orthotropous or anatropous ovule 

 in each cell. Styles 1-3: stigmas entire. Fruit a drupe or berry. 

 Embryo cylindrical, placed in a cavity of the hard albumen, near the 

 circumference of the seed. — Stems erector creeping. Leaves long- 

 petioled. Spadix axillary. 



Synopsis. 



* Leaves fan-shaped. 



*- Petioles smooth. Stem simple. 



1. SABAL. Ovary 3-celled. Stigma obtuse. Flowers sessile. 



2. THRINAX. Ovary 1-celled. Stigma funnel-shaped. Flowers pedicelled. 



1- H- Petioles spiny or denticulate. Stem branching. 



3. SERENOA. Petioles compressed, spiny. Petals valvate. Drupe naked. 



4. RAPHIDOPHYLLUM. Petioles triangular, denticulate. Petals imbricate. Drupe 



woolly. 



* * Leaves pinnate. 



5. OREODOXA. Spadix included. Drupe single, baccate. 



6. PSEUDOPHCENIX. Spadix large, paniculate. Drupes 1-3, scarlet, 



7. C0C08. Spadix branching. Drupe very large, v.'oody. Albumen hollow. 



1. SABAL, Adans. Palmetto. 



Flowers perfect. Calyx cup-shaped, 3-cleft. Corolla 3-petaIled. Stamens 6, 

 hvpogynous; the filameuts subnlate, distinct. Anthers cordate-ovate. Ovary 

 3-celled. Styles united; stigma capitate or obtuse. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe. 

 Embryo dorsal. Albumen homogeneous, horny. — Stem erect or creeping. 

 Leaves fan-shaped, with the divisions 2-cleft at the apex and with long thread- 

 liice filaments interposed. Spadix long, branching, with sheathing spathes at 



