PALMACE^:. 



221 



takes a high polish. A fibre, resembling whale-bone, separates 

 from the margins of old leaves. 



Vegetable Ivory is the hard albumen of the seeds of Phytele- 

 fihas inacrocarpa. 



The Oil Palm (Elais guineensis) of West Africa affords Palm- 

 oil, used in the manufacture of soap and candles. The oil is 

 obtained from the fruits. 993,091 hundredweights of the oil 

 were imported in 1 886. 



Sago is obtained from the farinaceous cellular tissue of the 

 trunk of species of Sagus, growing in the East Indian Islands. 



Palm-sugar is prepared from the juice of Phoenix and Borassus 

 in India. 



Rattan canes are the long flexible stems of Indian species of 

 Calamus, which resemble cordage stretched among the trees of 

 their native Indian forests. 



SUB-CLASS, Petaloideas. 



64. Natural Order Alismaceas. The Alisma Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. A small but cosmopolitan aquatic 

 Order. British genera 6, species 9. 



Perianth of 6 leaves. Pistil apocarpous. Ovary superior. 

 Type Water Plantain (Alisma Plantago). 



FIG. 166. Longi- 

 tudinal section 

 of achene of 

 same. 



Fi3. 165. Vertical section of flower 

 of Water Plaintain. 



FIG. 167. Em- 

 bryo of same 

 removed from 

 the seed. 



An erect aquatic perennial herb, with radical petiolate 

 leaves, and unequal whorled peduncles forming a loose 

 pyramidal panicle. 



