OF THE AMAZON. 45 



This is the only American species of the genus, and 

 it inhabits exclusively the tide-flooded lands of the 

 Lower Amazon and Para rivers, being quite unknown in 

 the interior. When descending from the Rio Negro to 

 Para in the summer of 1852, I observed some of our 

 Indians who had made the voyage before, pointing out 

 this tree to their less travelled companions as one of the 

 curiosities of the lower country not to be found in the 

 " Sertao." 



It is probable that the leaf, though not entire, is the 

 largest in the whole vegetable kingdom, some of them 

 covering a surface of more than 200 square feet. In a 

 few years we may be able to see them in the magnificent 

 Palm House at Kew, where young plants are now grow- 

 ing. 



Plate II. fig. 1, a fruit of Raphia tcecligera of the 

 natural size. 



