712 PALMACEH. 
liquid. In Sumatra it is termed neva, and a kind of spirit (arrack) is distilled 
from it in Batavia. From the trunk of this Palm, when exhausted of its 
saccharine juice, a good deal of our commercial Sago is obtained. A single 
tree will yield from 180 to 200 pounds of Sago. (See also Metroxylon.) 
The juice of the fruit is very acrid. ‘The stiff strong horsehair-like fibre 
known under the name of Gommuti or Ejow fibre is derived from the leaf- 
stalks of this palm. 
Attalea.—A. funifera, Mart.—The fruits of this species are largely im- 
ported ; they constitute the Coquilla Nuts of commerce, They are also termed 
Urucuri Nuts. Their pericarps are very hard, and form a useful material for 
the handles of doors, drawers, sticks, umbrellas, &c. The pendulous fibres 
of the petioles supply the coarser variety of Piassaba, known in commerce 
as Bahia Piassaba, the other and finer kind being derived from Leopoldinia 
Piassaba. (See Leopoldinia.) This coarser kind is obtained from Bahia. 
Other species of Attalea appear to yield similar fibres. From the seeds of 
A. Cahouni, the Cahoun Palm, a fatty oil may be obtained. They have 
been imported for this purpose. The seeds of A. Compta, the Pindova 
Palm, are much esteemed in Brazil, and the leaves are also used for making 
hats, &e. 
Borassus flabelliformis, the Palmyra Palm.—From the juice of this Palm 
toddy and arrack are procured in large quantities in India. Palmyra fibres 
are also obtained from its leaves, and “Palmyra wood from the trunk. 
Calamus.—Several kinds of walking-canes are obtained from species of 
this genus, as C. Scipionum, the Malacca cane; C. Rotang and C, Rudentum, 
Rattan canes. Partridge canes and ‘ Penang lawyers’ are also the produce 
of undetermined species.—C. verus, C. viminalis, and other species, are like- 
wise botanical sources of the canes now largely used for walking-sticks, 
and for chair bottoms, couches, &e. About twenty millions are annually 
imported, the value of which is probably not less than 40,000/. The fruit of 
C. Draco, and of probably other species, is the chief source of the astringent 
resinous substance known as Dragon’s Blood. (See also Pterocarpus Draco 
and Dracena Draco.) 
Caryota urens.—F rom this palm sugar may be procured, and its juice 
forms a kind of toddy or palm wine. From the trunks of the old trees a 
kind of Sago is obtained in Assam. 
Ceroxylon andicola——The trunk and axils of the leaves of this palm 
secrete wax, which may be applied to many useful purposes. Itis a native 
of New Granada. 
Chamerops.—C. humilis is the only Palm found wild in Europe. It sup- 
plies fibres which have been used as a substitute for horsehair, and in Sicily 
its different parts are applied to various purposes, as walking- canes, and for 
the making of hats, baskets, &c. The leaves, under the name of Palmetto 
leaves, have been imported and used for paper-making. Its young leaves or 
buds are also eaten as cabbage. Palm wine or toddy is likewise collected 
from the spathes. The material employed for the Brazilian chip or grass 
hats is obtained from C. argentea. 
Cocos nucifera, the Cocoa-nut Palm.—This is perhaps the most valuable 
of all the Palms. An impure sugar, called Jaggery, is largely obtained 
from the juice which flows out when its spathes and their neighbouring parts 
are injured. The fresh juice is termed Joddy. <A spirit called arrack is also 
prepared to a great extent from the fermented juice, as also vinegar. The 
albumen of the seeds, which are commonly known as Cocoa-nuts, and the 
liquid portion within this (cocoa-nut milk), form an important part of the 
food of the inhabitants of tropical regions. In large doses this milk when 
fresh has been used in India as an aperient. The Cocoa-nut is also largely 
consumed in this country. From the albumen the concrete oil known as 
Cocoa-nut oil or Cocoa-nut butter, is obtained. It is extensively employed 
for making candles and soap ; the imports into this country alone being 
