THE BOTANY OF BERMUDA. 113 



isli plauts; the flowers, which begin to apjjearin April, are as dear to the 

 Berinudiaii as the primrose to the Englishman. {iS. anceps in Lane's 

 list 5 ;S'. alatiim, Hook.) 



VII. — DlOSCORE^. 



Dioscorea lutea, Mey. Yam. 



The yam is grown in Bermuda, and usually produced at fruit and 

 flower shows, but is rare and does not enter into the ordinary diet of 

 any class of natives. (/). sativa, Linn.) 



VIII. — Xaiade^. 



Rnppia maritima, Linn. A marsh weed. 

 Zosicra marina, Linn. Sea- wrack ; Grass- weed. 

 Found in shallow sea-water, but not properly a sea-weed. 



IX. — Palm^. 



Sabal Palmetto, Lodd, or Chamicrops Palmetto, Michx. Palmetto. 



Native, and universal; originally American, not West Indian. The 

 Palmetto furnished the lirst settlers with a sweet fruit of which they 

 published exaggerated praises ; with a vegetable obtained by cutting 

 out the heart of the young leaves; with an intoxicating beverage they 

 called bibey; and with covering for their cabins, and even their churches. 

 Hence it is very frequently mentioned, and numerous laws were passed • 

 for its preservation. There are trees of 40 to 50 feet high. The leaves 

 are still extensively used for making plat, which was formerly exported. 

 We learn from Raynal that it was fashionable in Europe in the last cen- 

 tury. Fans and many fancy articles are also made from them, but the 

 present inhabitants are not sufiiciently industrious to make 1 hem of com- 

 mercial value. Flowers in June and July. 



S. Adansoni, Guer. Small thatch, or Dwarf palmetto. 



Also American, and seldom to be found. It was formerly common 

 and still occurs near Paynter's Vale. 



S. Carat and S. Mucini were planted at Mount Langton with promise 

 of i)ermanence. 



Ovedoxa oleracea, Mart. Cabbage palm. 



Introduced. Five conspicuous trees, called the sisters, near Hamil- 

 ton, attract the attention of every visitor ; there are many others. 



Astrocaryum aureum, Gr. and Wendl. Gru-gru, or Gri-gri. 

 Introduced ; not common. There are two fine specimens at Mount 

 Bull. Nat. Mus. No. 25 8 



