FETALOIDEiE. 



687 



upon, in the manufacture of hats, matting, &e. ; their wood is 

 applied to many useful purposes ; the fibres of their petioles 



Fig. 1057. Fig. 1058. 



Fig. 1056. 



Fig. 1059. Fig. 1060. 



Fig. 1055. Diagram of the staminate flower of the Fan Palm (Chamwrops), 



with six divisions to the perianth, and six stamens. Fig. 1056. 



Diagram of the pistillate flower of the same, with six divisions to the 



perianth, and a 3-celled ovary. Fig. 1057. Hermaphrodite flower of 



the Blue Palmetto (Chamcerops hystrix"), with the perianth removed. 



ov. Ovary, st. Stamens. Fig. 1058. The same, with three of the 



stamens removed, so as to exhibit more completely the three carpels 



composing the pistil, st. Stamens, c. Cari)els. Fig. 1059. Vertical 



section of tlie fruit of the Cocoa-Nut Palm (Cocos nucifera). a. The 

 two outer layers or husk of the pericarp. &. Endocarp, inner layer, or 



shell, c. Albumen, d. Cavity in the albumen, e. Embryo. Fig. 



1060. Vertical section of the seed of the Fan Palm. 



and fruits supply materials for cordage, cloth, and various 

 textile fabrics ; and the hard albumen of their seeds is applic- 

 able in many ways. In a medicinal point of view they are of 

 very much less importance ; indeed, they do not supply any 

 important article of the Materia Medica of Europe, although in 

 tropical countries they are of more value, and in frequent use as 

 medicinal agents. 



Areca.—A. Catechu, the Catechu or Betel Nut Palm.— The seeds are kno-wn 

 under the name of Betel or Areca Nuts. In the south of India an extract 

 is made from these nuts, which constitutes the commercial variety of 

 Catechu, kno^vn as Colombo or Ceylon Catechu, although it is doubtful 

 whether any Catechu is prepared in that island. It is the Betel Nut 

 Catechu of Pereira. In its properties and uses this Catechu resembles that 

 obtained from Acacia Catechu. (See p. 526.) Charcoal prepared from the 



