no 17. CYPERACEAE — 18. PALMAE 



Perianth-bristles not elongated or wanting 39 



39. Glumes hairy, like the wiiole plant. Perianth of 3—6 toothed scales or 



bristles. — Species 20 Fuirena Rottb. 



Glumes glabrous. — Species 70. Some are used as ornamental plants or 

 for plaiting-vvork, others have edible root-stocks, also used in medicine. 

 (Including Isolepis R. Br. and Schoenoplectus Reichb.) Scirpus L. 



ORDER PRINCIPES 



FAMILY 18. PALMAE 



Stem woody, usually simple. Leaves pinnately or palmately split, at least 

 2-clcft, usually collected in a crown at the top of the stem. Flowers in simple 

 or branched spadices enveloped by spathes, usually anisexual and provided 

 with rudimentary stamens or carpels. Perianth-segments 6, similar in texture, 

 but often unequal in size, leathery or parchment-like, green white or yellow. 

 Stamens 6 01 more, rarely 3, united at the base or adnate below to the perianth. 

 Carpels 3, superior, distinct or united and then foiming a i — ^3 -celled ovary ; 

 sometimes 2 carpels empty or reduced to the style. Ovules sohtary in each cell, 

 filling the cell and sometimes adhering to its wall. Fruits berry- or drupe- 

 like. Seeds with a small embryo and horny albumen. — Genera 36, species 

 100. (Plates 10 and 11.) 

 I. Carpels 3, distinct. Fruit consisting of i — 3 smooth berries. Leaf-seg- 

 ments induplicate in bud. [Subfamily CORYPHOIDEAE.] . . 2 

 Carpels 3, united and forming a i- — 3-celled ovary, or carpel i. . . 3 

 .2. Leaves fan-shaped. Spadices with 2 or more incomplete spathes. Flowers 

 polygamous or dioecious. Perianth of the female flowers as in the male. 

 Seed ovate, not deeply grooved ; albumen ruminate. Stem short, 

 usually branched. — Species i {Ch. humilis L.). North-West Africa. 

 L^sed as an ornamental plant ; the leaf-buds are eaten and the fibres 

 used for making ropes or paper or for stuffing cushions. " Dwarf- 

 palm." [Tribe SABALEAE.j Chamaerops L. 



Leaves pinnate. Spadices with one complete spathe. Flowers dioecious. 

 Perianth of the female flowers differing from the male. Seed oblong, 

 with a deep longitudinal groove. — Species 5. Some (especiall}^ the 

 date-palm, Ph. dadvlijera L.) have edible fruits, also used for making 

 brandy and sugar. They yield also palm wine, wood, and fibres for 

 plaiting and stuffing, and are used as ornamental plants. [Tribe PHOE- 



NICEAE.] \ Phoenix L. 



3. Leaves fan-shaped. Spadices with many incomplete spathes. Fruit a 

 drupe with i — 3 distinct stones ; epicarp smooth or minutely dotted. 

 [Subfamily BORASSOIDEAE, tribe BORASSEAE.] ..... 4 

 Leaves pinnately dissected or 2-cleft. Fruit berry-like or covered with 

 imbricate scales or containing a single stone ; if fruit drupe-like and 

 one-seeded, then spadices with i — 4 complete spathes. ... 8 



