THE PALM FAMILY 139 



The name "monocotyledons", by which this new class is known, 

 and to which the Palms, Lilies, Grasses and Orchids belong, 

 refers ta another peculiarity of theirs, namely to the fact that 

 their seeds have only one leaf, the cotyledon, whereas the plants 

 that fall under the class of dicotyledons have two seed-leaves. 

 And this cotyledon remains enclosed in the germinating seed, as 

 an organ for the absorption of the endosperm stored in it. 



There are a few more points that characterise the monocoty- 

 ledons among which we will mention only these: — 



The petioles of their leaves have either sheaths or broad bases, 

 and their blades are generally parallel-veined. The floral leaves 

 are mostly in sets of three, whereas the dicotyledons have net- 

 veined leaves and the floral parts in sets of four or five. 



3. Leaves. — We have seen that in the Cocoanut Palm a 

 crown of mighty, feathery leaves waves on a slender stem, which 

 can reach a very considerable height; and the wind is, therefore, 

 able to exercise its full force on the leaves. These are excep- 

 tionally large, sometimes sixteen feet long, and if their blades 

 were entire, as they are, indeed, in their undeveloped, folded 

 bud-state, the wind would certainly tear them into pieces or up- 

 root the whole tree. But the Cocoanut Palm can withstand the 

 strongest storm, as its huge leaves are slit into segments by the 

 the rupture of the tissue at the edges of the folds, forming 

 pinnate, i. e., feathery leaves, which let the wind pass between the 

 pinnae, and so lessen its pressure. Besides, the leaves are covered 

 with such a strong and hard epidermis that no vehemence of the 

 lashing tropical rains can do them any harm. 



The tuft at the end of the stem contains twelve to twenty-four 

 leaves. As generally every month one leaf is produced and one is 

 dropped, the number of them does not increase. The base of the 

 leaf-stalk is broad and stem-clasping, and the fallen leaves leave 

 a very distinct scar on the stem, by counting which the age of 

 the tree may be estimated. 



4. Cultivation. — Cocoanut trees are commonly planted in 

 deep pits when they are one or two years old. It is several years 

 before the tree grows to any height. During these first years the 

 trunk is formed till it attains its ordinary width. At the same 



