MONOCOTYLEDONOUS STRUCTURE. 



169 



where they unite with those of the next internode. 



The rind . of the Corn 



stalk, Bamboo, Reed, etc., 



is smooth and flinty, due 



to the deposition of silica 



on the walls of the cells 



that compose it. This mode 



of growth is well shown in 



the Palms of tropical and 



SUb-trOpical regions, aS the 522 ' Vertical section of a Palm stem, showing 



course and direction of fibers. 513, Theoretical 



Palmetto of the Carolinas, plan of the direction of fibers in a vertical section of 



7 a Palm stem ; a, a, bases of leaves, showing direc- 



the Cocoanut Palm, many tiol > of fiber growth 



thousands of which have been planted on the coast of 



Florida. 



422. The Palm, which is the type of the mono- 



cotyledonous division of the 

 vegetable kingdom, reaches 

 perfection only in tropical or 

 sub-tropical regions. There 

 some of the members of 

 this great division tower to 

 the height of one hundred 

 and fifty feet, straight, un- 

 branched cylindrical col- 

 ums, crowned with a mass 

 of green foliage, presenting 

 to the eye magnificent ob- 

 jects of the picturesque and 

 beautiful. The Palm is one 

 of the most important or- 

 naments in planted grounds 

 in tropical countries, occu- 

 524, Paim, Agave, etc. pying a belt all around the 



