NINE IRON-CLAD PALMS 1 77 



differs from most of the palms in that it 

 produces suckers, each of which sends up a 

 stem so that in time the plant will become 

 as broad as it is tall. 



The most beautiful dwarf palm in culti- 

 vation is Cocos Weddelliana, and as a house 

 plant it is extremely popular. The charac- 

 teristic leaves are developed at a very early 

 stage, and as the plant is a slow grower, it 

 retains its beauty for a long time. The short 

 stem of the C. Weddelliana bears numerous 

 gracefully arching leaves which are a foot 

 or more long and three or four inches wide, 

 and remind one of a feather. The leaflets 

 are very slender, and silvery white on the 

 reverse. It is particularly useful for table 

 decoration in fern dishes as a centre piece, 

 small ferns, such as pteris, and selaginella 

 moss being placed about the base. 



This is often referred to as the cocoanut 

 palm; that belongs to the same genus, but 

 is quite different, however, in having large 

 broad leaves in the young state. 



Although of no value as a house plant, 

 lots of fun may be had from growing the 

 cocoanut palm from seed. To do this, 

 secure a cocoanut with the husk on and 



