302 



PALMACE^. 



[CHAP. 



varying in height and form in different species, sometimes 

 prostrate, forming a rhizome, or cable-Uke, but usually erect 

 and nearly cylindrical, bearing the persistent bases of fallen 



leaves, or exhibiting the ring-like scars which they leave. It is 

 rarely branched, as in the Egyptian Doum Palm {Hyphame)^ 

 an erect-growing species. The wood is often extremely hard 

 outside, and very soft within. It is well adapted to illustrate 

 the independence of the vascular cords, characteristic of 

 Monocotyledons (see page ii8). Observe, also, the variety 

 in structure of the fruit ; the three carpels of which it is 

 normally composed are usually coherent, but sometimes, 

 as in Chajficerops, Rhapis., and Phosnix (the Date), the fruit 

 is apocarpous. In the more important Indian genera it is 

 syncarpous, and one-celled from the suppression of two 

 cells, as in Cocos and the Betel {Areca), — or three-celled, as 

 in Arenga, Caryofa, Calamus, Borassus, and others. The 

 structure of the pericarp is particularly variable. In the 

 Cocoa-nut {Cocos) the epicarp is fibrous, affording the coir 

 fibre of commerce; the endocarp, a hard shell. In the 

 Date {Fhcefiix) the pericarp is fleshy and sweet. In the 

 Rattans or Rotangs {Calamus), and Sago palm {Sagus), the 

 fruit is covered with numerous, hard, imbricating scales. 

 In the Palmyra Palm {Borassus) it is a huge drupe, with 

 three large, fibrous, one-seeded pyrenes. 



