3 r4 Dr. J. E. Smith's Defer i/> /ion of 



dillilled a great quantity of thick clear infipid mucilage, which foon 

 hardened info a lubRance relembling gum tragacanth, in which 

 j'lrobably rtiidcs the nutritive quality for which this Palm is fo cele- 

 brated in the Flora Jciponica. We are there told that a very fmall 

 niorfcl of the pith of its ftem is fufficient to fuftain life a long time, 

 and on that account the plant is jealoufly preferved for the ufe of the 

 Japanefe army. The drupis arc alfo faid to be ufed as food. We 

 roafted fomc, and found in their kernels the flavour of chefnuts, 

 with lefs fweetnefs and a more watery confiftence. Each dnipa 

 is elliptical or foraewhat obovate, a little compreflTed, tipped with a 

 minute rigid point formed of the permanent ftigma, which is umbi- 

 licated at its fummit. The outer coat is coriaceous, bright orange 

 led, clothed with woolly down which eafily rubs off. This coat 

 is not eatable. Nut folitary, elliptical, even, hard, whitifli, tipped 

 with a point connefted with the ftigma, and internally lined 

 with a locfe brown membranous integument clofely enfolding the 

 kernel, whic-h is alfo elliptical, white, firm, uniform, completely 

 occupying the fhell, and confifting entirely of albumen'^. In its 

 tipper part, immediately under the ftigma, we difcovered a fmall 

 round cavity where the embryo fhould have been, but no traces of 

 it were to be found, for want of impregnation by the male pollen, 

 which is produced on a feparate tree. Probably the flavour of the 

 nuts might have been improved had they been impregnated. 



Enough has been faid to fliow the near affinity of this genus to 

 Zamia, (fee Gxrtner, tab. 3.) from which it is chiefly, and indeed fuf- 

 ficiently, diflinguifhed by its drupcp. growing on a true frond, con- 

 trafted with, the amentaceous fruit of Zamia. The two genera per- 

 haps, conftitute an intermediate order between Palmce and Filices^ 

 but are furely mofl akin to the former. 



pk • Gsertner rather choofes to call it vitdltis in Zamia. 



The 



