4 PALM TREES 



though, as similar calculations have hitherto almost in- 

 variably been proved, as our knowledge increased, to be 

 far below the truth, it is not unlikely that a few years 

 may render double this number a more probable esti- 

 mate. 



Palms present to our view the most graceful and 

 picturesque, as well as some of the most majestic forms 

 in the vegetable kingdom. Though many of them have 

 a sameness of aspect, yet there is a sufficient contrast 

 and variety of forms to render them interesting objects 

 in the landscape. The stems in some species do not 

 appear above the ground, in others they rise to the 

 height of 200 feet; some resemble reeds and are no 

 thicker than a goose quill, others swell out to the bulk 

 of a hogshead. There are climbing palms too, which 

 trail their long flexible stems over trees and shrubs, or 

 hang in tangled festoons between them. 



The trunks of some are almost perfectly smooth, 

 others rough with concentric rings, or clothed with a 

 woven or hairy fibrous covering, which binds together 

 the sheathing bases of the fallen leaves. Many are 

 thickly beset with cylindrical or flat spines, often 8 or 

 10 inches long and as sharp as a needle ; and the 

 fallen leaves and stems of these offer a serious obstacle 

 to the traveller who attempts to penetrate the tropical 

 forests. 



The leaves are large and often gigantic, surpassing 

 those of any other family of plants. In some species 

 they are 50 feet long and 8 wide ; these are pinnate or 

 composed of numerous long narrow leaflets placed at 



