PETAL0IDEJ2. 685 



toddy is obtained in large quantities in India, Palmyra fibres are obtained 

 from its leaves, and Palmyra wood from its trunk. 



Phoenix. — P. dactylifera is the Date Palm. The fruits called Dates are nu- 

 tritious, and afford the principal food of the inhabitants of some parts of 

 Africa, and Arabia. Animals are also fed upon them. They are imported 

 into this country, and ■ sed as an article for thedessert, but they arenotmuch 

 esteemed. About ten tons annually are received. They have been lately used 

 as a food for cattle, but at present, their price is too high to allow of any 

 great consumption for such a purpose. The Date Palm is the Palm com- 

 monly referred to in Scripture. Sug^r and toddy are obtained from its juice. 

 P. sylvestris, the Wild Date Palm, is the plant from which the laraest quantity 

 of palm sugar is obtained. It is a native of India, where, it is said, 130,000,000 

 pounds of sugar are annually extracted from it. Palm sugar generally re- 

 sembles cane sugar in flavour. The total amount of palm sugar obtained from 

 the different kinds of Palms, has been estimated by Johnston at 220,000,000 

 pounds. Phoenix far inif era yields an inferior kind of Sago,^ which is used 

 in some parts of India, 



Calamus. — Several walking-canes are obtained from species of this genus, 

 as C. Zalacca, the Malacca cane ; C. Scipionum {Rotang), and C. Rudentum, 

 Rattan canes. Partridge canes and Penang lawyers are the produce of un- 

 determined species. The fruit of C- Draco, and probably other species, is the 

 chief source of the astringent resinous substance known as Dragon's Blood. 

 (See also Pterocarpus Draco, and Draccena Draco). 



HyphcEtie thebaica, the Doum Palm of Egypt (Jig. 185). The pericarp of its 

 fruit resembles gingerbread; hence this plant is sometimes known as the 

 Gingerbread tree. 



Chamcerops humilis is the only Palm found wild in Europe. It supplies fibres 

 which have been used as a substitute for horse-hair, and in Sicily the different 

 parts of this plant are applied to various purposes, as walking-canes, and for 

 the making of hats, baskets, &c. The materials employed for the Brazilian 

 chip or grass hats are obtained from C. argentea. 



Attaleafunifera — The fruits of this species are largely imported into this 

 country, and constitute the Coquilla nuts of commerce. The pericarp is very 

 hard, and forms a useful material for the handles of doors, drawers, sticks, 

 umbrellas, &c. The pendulous fibres of the petioles supply a material closely 

 resembling Piassaba (see Leopolditiia); in fact, this Palm was, till recently, re- 

 garded as the source of Piassaba. Other species appear to yield similar fibres. 

 From the seeds of ^. Cahuuni,i\\e Cahcun Palm, a fatty oil may be obtained. 

 They have been lately imported for that purpose. 



Phytelephas macrocarpa — The hard albumen of the seed of this Palm 

 constitutes the vegetable ivory of commerce. It is used extensively by the 

 turners. The fruits containing the seeds present some resemblance to negroes' 

 heads, and are hence termed Cabeza del negro. 



Elais guineensis and E. melanoeocca, the Guinea Oil Palms. — The sarco- 

 carp of the drupaceous fruits of these Palms abounds in oil, which when ex- 

 tracted is known as Palm Oil. This is a solid butter-like oil, of a rich orange- 

 yellow colour, and is extensively used in this country in the manufacture of 

 soap and candles, and for lubricating the wheels of railway-carriages, &c. In 

 Africa it is used as food by the natives. The hard stony putamen of the same 

 fruits yields a limpid oil. Palm wine maybe also prepared, from the juice 

 which flows from the woimded spathes of these Palms. 



Cocos nucifera, the Cocoa or Coco-nut Palm — This is perhaps the most valu- 

 able of all the Palms. Sugar called Jaggery is largely obtained from the juice 

 which flows out when its spathes and spadix are injured. Toddy and arrack 

 are prepared to a great extent from the fermented juice. The albumen of the 

 seeds, and the liquid portion within this (cocoa-nut milk), form an important 

 part of the food of the inhabitants of tropical regions. The Cocoa-nut is also 

 largely consumed in this country. From this albumen, the concrete oil, known 

 as Cocoa-nut oil or Cocoa-nut butler, is obtained It is extensively employed 

 for making candles and soap. In India it is much esteemed as a pomatum, 

 but its unpleasant odour and the rancid character which it soon acquires, pre- 

 vent its use in this country for such a purpose. From the fibrous portion of 

 the pericarp of the Cocoa-nut, the strong fibres called Car or Cocoa-nut 

 fibres are obtained. Coir is remarkable for its durability, and is accordingly 

 much used for cordage, fishing-nets, matting, scrubbing-brushes, &c. The 

 wood of the Cocoa-nut is very hard, handsome, and durable, and is used for 

 several purposes under the name of Porcupine Wood. 



