©vigiual Mxtitlt^. 



NOTES ON THE COCOS NUCIFEllA. 



By H. 0. Forbes. 



(Tab. 202.) 



On a late visit to the Cocos Keeling Islands, in the South 

 Indian Ocean, I examined a Cocoa-nut Palm with branches, of 

 which, as it is rather a rare occurrence, I send the accom- 

 panying sketches, for which I am indebted to Mr. A. C. Ross. 

 It will be seen that instead of producing flowers in the usual 

 way from the axils of the leaves of the crown, this tree bears 

 plumes of leaves which are persistent. As yet it has produced 

 no fruit ; it is, however, not very old. The scars on the stem 

 indicate the position of other plumes, which were likewise per- 

 sistent, but were cut off by the natives for their sweet " cabbage." 

 As soon, however, as Mr. Eoss, the proprietor of the islands, 

 became aware of this peculiar tree, he issued strict orders that it 

 should be left intact. At present there are twenty-five living 

 branches, and the scars of fifty-two. During a destructive cyclone 

 which visited the group in 1876 it suffered considerably, but 

 has began to recover, and is now looking most healthy. It 

 will be interesting to know hovv^ the growth of the branches con- 

 tinues, and if it bear fruit ; as to these particulars, Mr. Eoss has 

 kindly promised to keep me informed. 



The Cocoa Palm grows here with great luxuriance ; some 

 reach a height of 120 feet. In numerous instances the three 

 cells of the ovary are developed, forming a nut with three cells 

 separated by leathery walls. These do not often attain a size 

 as large as the cells of the ordinary nut, in which two are 

 suppressed. Very often the three seeds germinate, producing 

 an apparently trifid tree, the trunks coalescing at theii* bases. 

 I have seen also nuts with cells ranging from four to eight and 

 ten.* I send you a rough outline sketch of a tree which has 

 come up from a nut of fourteen cells, all of which germinated, 

 producing a tree with fourteen stems united at the base; several 

 have been cut oft', and there remain now only seven. The tree is 

 three years old. 



The trees growing by the margin of the sea, and washed often 

 by the tide, do not reach so great a size as those in the interior of 

 the island, where they have more fresh water and not so much of 



* It would be very interesting to have specimens of such remarkable Cocoa- 

 nuts. — [JEd. Joiirn. Bot.^ 



N. s. VOL. 8. [July, 1879.] 2 o 



