PALM TREES 



are often fibrous, and give out a variety of singular 

 processes. 



The flowers are numerous, small, symmetrical, un- 

 coloured, or obscurely so, six-parted, and hermaphrodite 

 or polygamous. They are produced in a spadix from 

 the axils of the leaves, and are generally enclosed in a 

 spathe or sheath. The ovary or seed-vessel is three- 

 celled or three-lobed, but the fruit is generally one- 

 seeded from abortion, and the seed is large and albu- 

 minous with a fibrous or fleshy covering. 



Palms are almost exclusively tropical plants, very 

 few species being found in the temperate zone, and 

 those only in the warmer parts of it, while the nearer 

 we approach the equator the more numerous they 

 become both in species and individuals. Dr. Martius, 

 a Prussian botanist and traveller in South America, has 

 published a magnificent work in three folio volumes, 

 entirely devoted to the Botanical history of this family 

 of plants. He divides the portion of the earth which 

 produces palms into five regions, namely, — 



The North Palm Zone, extending from the northern 

 limit of Palms to the tropic of Cancer. 



The transition North Palm Zone, from the tropic of 

 Cancer to 10° north latitude. 



The Chief Palm Zone, from 10° north to 10° south 

 latitude. 



The transition South Palm Zone, from 10° south 

 latitude to the tropic of Capricorn, and 



The South Palm Zone, from the tropic of Capricorn 

 to the southern limit of the family. 



