688 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Areca nut is termed Areca-nut charcoal, and is used in this country as a 

 tootli powder. It has no value over that of ordinary charcoal. The Betel 

 Kut is one of the ingredients in the famed masticatory of the East, called 

 Betel. (See Chavica.) The dried expanded leaf-stalks have been used iu 

 India as splints. A. olevacea is known as the West Indian Cabbage Palm, 

 its young terminal bud when boiled being eaten as a vegetable. 



Attalea. — A. funifera. — The fruits of this species are largely imported 

 into this countiy, and constitute the Coquilla nuts of commerce. The peri- 

 carp is very hard, and forms a useful material for the handles of doors, 

 drawers, sticks, umbrellas, &c. The pendulous fibres of the petioles supply 

 the coarser variety of Piassaba, the other and finer kind being derived 

 from Leopoldinia Piassaba (See Leopoldinia.) Tliis coarse 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 that purpose. The seeds of A. Gonipta,Vi\e 

 Pimdova Palm, are much esteemed in Brazil, and the leaves are also used 

 for making hats, &c. 



Corassus flabeUiformis, the Palmyra "Palm. — From the juice of this Palm 

 toddy and an'ack are obtained in large quantities in India. Palmyra fibres 

 are obtained from its leaves, and Palmyra wood from its trunk. 



CaZ«7»;/s.— Several walking-canes are obtained from species of this genus, 

 as C. Scipiomnn, the Malacca cane; 0. Rotang and C. Rudentum, Rattan 

 canes. Partridge canes and Penang lawyers are the produce of undetermined 

 species. C verus, C. viminalis, &c., are also other sources of the canes now 

 largely used for walking-sticks and for chair bottoms, couches, &c. About 

 twenty millions are annually imported, the value of which being aboat 

 40,000?. The fruit of C. D)-aco, and of probably other species, is the chief 

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

 also Pterocai'pus Draco and Draccena Draco.) 



Caryota wens. — From 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 or Iriartea ctndicola.— The trunk and axils of the leaves of this 

 palm secrete wax, which may be applied to many useful purposes. It is 

 a native of New Granada. 



Chamcevopn.—C. hmnilis is the only Palm found wild in Europe. It sup- 

 plies fibres which have been used as a substitute for horsehair, and iu 

 Sicily its different parts 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 arc obtained from C. arqentea. 



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

 able of all the Palms. An impure sugar, called Jaggery, is largely 

 obtained from the juice which flows out when its spathes and spadix are 

 injured. The fresh juice is termed Toddy. A spirit called arrack is also 

 prepared to a great extent fi-om the fermented juice, as also vinegar. The 

 albiimen 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. 

 In large doses this milk when fi'e«h 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 Cnroa-nut butter, 

 is obtained. It is extensively emploj^ed 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, prevent its use in 

 this country for such a purpose. The oleine obtained by pressure from 

 the crude oil,^ and afterwards purified by alkahes, &c., has been recom- 

 mended as a substitute for cod-liver oil, but although its use has been 

 favourably reported upon by some physicians, its employment has not been 

 generally approved. From the fibrous portion of the pericarp of the Cocoa- 

 nut the strong fibres called Coir or Cocoa-nut fibres are obtained. Coir is 

 remarkable for its durability, and is accordingly much used for cordage, 

 fishing-nets, matting, scrubbing-brushps, &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. 



Copernicia cerifera, the Carnanba Palm, is a native of the Brazils. On 



