124 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



moist, sheltered place free from frost. I have it doing well in 

 a pot. 



Verschaffeltia splendida is a beautiful spiny, lofty-growing 

 palm from the Seychelles, with large bifid leaves. The Sey- 

 chelles Islands have a tropical climate, the lowest range of the 

 thermometer being 70; there is a very heavy rainfall and the 

 soil is granitic, conditions very different from those of Florida. 



Wallachia. A genus containing two or three species from 

 India which promise to do well in the warmer part of the state. 

 I have a young W. caryotoides which is doing finely in partial 

 shade in the edge of hammock. The leaves closely resemble 

 those of Caryota. 



FAN- LEAVED PALMS. 



Borassus flabelliformis is a grand tropical palm from southern 

 Asia, and the East Indian Archipelago. The Palmyra, as it is 

 called, is dioecious, has enormous, fan-shaped leaves and bears 

 bunches of flowers and fruit from the axils of the leaves. I do 

 not know that it has been cultivated in Florida but it should be 

 tried in the warmer parts of the state. 



Chamaerops humilis from southern Europe and northern 

 Africa is a beautiful, very hardy palm. The leaves are divided 

 into a great number of segments and their under surfaces are 

 somewhat silvery. The compact heads of yellow flowers are 

 quite attractive; the tree is vigorous and healthy here, and it 

 ought to be generally cultivated. It is quite variable and the 

 variations have received specific names. There is a larger form, 

 possibly a species, which grows in northern Africa, called C. 

 macrocarpa, which is also fine. They will grow on pine land and 

 in exposed situations. 



Copernicia. C. cerifera is the Wax Palm of Brazil, the young 

 leaves being covered with wax. It is a handsome palm and 

 should be tried in Florida. There are several fine species in Cuba. 



Corypha. A genus of noble palms with immense leaves from 

 southeastern Asia which contains the famous Talipot Palm 

 (C. umbraculifera) . The leaves are said to be sometimes twenty 

 feet across and the enormous panicles of white flowers may reach 

 an equal length. The trees of this genus are slow growing when 



