PREFACE. V 



the base, the middle or the summit, — its generally erect 

 or curving position, — the nature of the rings with which 

 it is marked, — the number, direction and form of the 

 spines or tubercles with which it is armed; — in the 

 leaves, the erect or drooping position, the size and form 

 of the leaflets, the angles which they form with the 

 midrib, and the proportionate size of the terminal pair, 

 are all important characters. The fruit spike or spadix 

 is either erect or drooping, either simple, forked, or many- 

 branched ; and the fruits in closely allied species vary 

 in size, in shape, and in colour, as well as in the bloom, 

 down, hairs or tubercles with which they are clothed. 



In this little work careful engravings from my original 

 drawings are given, with a general description of each 

 species, and a history from personal observation of the 

 various uses to which it is applied, and of any other 

 interesting particulars connected with it. Several of 

 the species here figured are new, and among them is 

 the Palm which produces the " piassaba," the coarse 

 fibrous material of which brooms for street-sweeping 

 are now generally made. 



For the determination of the genera and species,.and 

 for that part of the Introduction relating to the botanical 

 characters and geographical distribution of Palms, I am 



