ECONOMIC OR USEFUL PLANTS 429 



Islands, and Louisiana. Sorghum is a somewhat similar cane 

 grown in more northern latitudes, where it seeds. It is used for 

 making certain grades of molasses. Broom corn (Sorghum vul- 

 gare), an allied plant, is grown for the stiff, spreading divisions 

 of the panicle which are used for making brooms, brushes, etc. 



578. Bamboo. The bamboo canes grow in tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries, where they attain the height of small trees and 

 a diameter of several inches to a foot. The stems are hard, 

 light and strong. They are used for building purposes and for 

 making various useful articles. There are several species used, 

 but the most common and widely distributed one is Bambusa 

 vulgar is. A related plant (Arundinaria macros perma), the giant 

 cane, forms the well-known " cane brakes " along river bottoms 

 in the Southern States, and is used for making fishing rods, while 

 split bamboo is also used for the same purpose. 



579. The palm family (Palmacese). The members of this 

 family are tropical and subtropical plants, and, because of their 

 beauty and grace of form, many are grown in northern latitudes 

 indoors for ornamental purposes. A common example in the 

 Southern States is the palmetto, a fan palm, which is the emblem 

 of South Carolina. The Washington palm of Arizona and south- 

 ern California is tree-like, having a tall trunk, with spreading 

 leaves at the top forming a dense mass. It grows in desert 

 regions. The finest palms grow in the tropics and are the most 

 striking and characteristic feature of the landscape, with a great 

 variety of form and size. Some of the most useful palms are 

 as follows. The cocoanut palm (Cocos nucifera) always occurs 

 near the sea, and is widely distributed in all tropical countries. 

 It is planted to some extent in the interior. In the cocoanut the 

 outer layer of the fruit, or exocarp, is fibrous, and is usually 

 removed in the preparation of the fruits for commerce. The 

 fibrous material is used for coarse articles, as mats, brushes, cord- 

 age, etc. The inner layer of the wall (endocarp) is stony, and 

 at one end are seen the three scars indicating the compound 

 nature of the fruit, since it is composed of three carpels. The 

 date palm (Phanix dactylifera) is a native of Arabia, is cultivated 



