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Some account of the VEGETABLE Ivory Parm (Phytelephas macro- 
carpa); by W. J. H. (Tab. VI. and VII.) 
It is not for the first time we here make the observation that the vege- 
table products, best known in commerce, in the arts, &c., are frequently 
the least known Jotanically. A striking example in proof of this 
statement may be found in the fact, that familiar as every one is with 
the substance called Vegetable Ivory, Dr. Von Martius is obliged to 
bring to a conclusion his “ Opus magnificum ” on the Palms, without 
being able to figure, or even to describe from the life or from well- 
dried specimens, the species which yields this singular substance. The 
very last genus noticed in the work just mentioned is Phytelephas; and 
the author concludes his account of it with the remark : “ Descriptio ex 
iconibus Gaudichaudianis et exemplari manco ;” and these figures of 
Gaudichaud (Voyage de la Bonite) only exhibit the fructification, un- 
accompanied by any history or explanation. 
We are far from expecting to fillup all that is wanting to the 
history of the Vegetable Ivory: our living plants are but young, 
and our own. specimens, how superior soever they may be to those 
possessed by other hotii cabinets, are far indeed from being com- 
plete; for it is well known how difficult it is to procure available 
specimens for illustration of these “ Princes ” of the vegetable kingdom. 
The Royal Gardens, however, when sending out a collector to New 
Granada in 1845, did not fail to direct his attention to the importation 
of this plant; so that living specimens may now be seen in our stoves, 
and well-preserved specimens in various, but not in all states, in one 
of the cases of the Museum. From these, and from other sources, our 
brief history will be derived. 
The first notice of the existence of the Vegetable Ivory Palm was given 
by Ruiz and Pavon, in their Systema Vegetabilium Flore Peruviane et 
Chilensis, published at Madrid, in 1798. There, under the name of 
Phytelephas macrocarpa, we find the following account of its native 
names and properties :— 
“ Tt is called Pullipunta and Homero by the Indians of the hot and 
low valleys of the Andes of Peru, about Chanchamoya, Vitor, Cuchero, 
and San Antonio de Playa grande, its native locality, —Pa/ma del Marsil, 
and Marsil vegetal by the Spaniards ;-—while the fruit, on account of its 
size and appearance, is called Cabeza de Negro. The Indians cover 
their cottages with the leaves of this most beautiful Palm. The fruit 
