OP THE AMAZON. 5 



right angles to the midrib, but in others the leaves are 

 entire and undivided, and yet are 30 feet or more in 

 length and 4 or 5 in width. But the most remarkable 

 form of leaf is the fan-shaped, which characterizes a con- 

 siderable number of species, and gives them such a 

 completely different aspect, as to render it, to ordinary 

 observers, the most palpable feature dividing the whole 

 family into two distinct groups. The Palms having 

 fan-shaped leaves are, however, comparatively few, being 

 only 91 out of 582 known species. 



The flowers are small and inconspicuous, generally of 

 a white, pale yellow or green colour, but often produced 

 in such dense masses as to have a striking appearance. 

 They sometimes emit a very powerful odour, which 

 attracts swarms of minute insects ; and a newly-burst 

 palm spathe may often be discovered by the buzzing 

 cloud of small flies and beetles which hover over it. 



The fruits are generally small, when compared with 

 the size of the trees ; the common cocoa-nut being one 

 of the largest in the whole family. The*kernel of many 

 is too hard to be eaten, and the outer covering is often 

 fibrous or woody; but in others the seeds are covered 

 with a pulpy or farinaceous mass, which in most cases 

 furnishes a grateful and nutritious food. 



The purposes to which the different parts of Palms 

 are applied are very various, the fruit, the leaves, and 

 the stem all having many uses in the different species. 

 Some of them produce valuable articles of export to our 

 own and other countries, but they are of far more value 

 to the natives of the districts where they grow, in many 



