16 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



gynium, which probably corresponds to the modified 

 palet of the grass spikelet. The elongated perianth forms 

 the wool of the wool-grass or cotton-grass. The scales 

 of the spikelet are in 2 ranks in Cyperus and Dulichium; 

 in many ranks in the other genera. 



The Cyperacese are of far less economic importance 

 than the Graminese. The rhizomes of several species 

 of Carex were formerly used as a remedy in syphilis. 

 Scirpus lacustris is astringent and diuretic, but other 



9. _CYPERACEJE; 1. Scirpua, a, portion of inflorescence; 6, flower. 

 2. Eriophorum, spikelet. 3. Carex; a, inflorescence; b t vertical 

 section perigynium. PALMACE^E: 4. Chamserops, a, spathe and 

 spadix; 6, floral diagram. CYCLANTHACE.E: 5. Cyclanthus, inflo- 

 rescence. 6. Carludovica, inflorescence. 



species also possess this property. The foliage of 

 Eriophorum has been used for dysentery. The spongy 

 pith of the Eriophorum stem was used by German 

 peasants for tapeworm. The tubers of Cyperus escu- 

 lentus, now a weed in all countries, were cultivated 

 by the Egyptians for food. The leaves of many species 

 of Cyperaceae have been woven into mats, chair- 

 bottoms, and the like. The Egyptians made parchment 

 from the pith of Cyperus Papyrus. The rhizomes of 

 Eleocharis tuberosa are used in the manufacture of 

 starch, in China and India. Cyperus scariosus and C. 

 pertenuis, of India, are fragrant and used in making 

 perfumery. Some carices are used in making rugs. 



Several genera are in cultivation in America, mostly 

 for water-gardens, table decorations, and the con- 

 servatory: Carex (Sedge); Cyperus (Umbrella Palm, 

 Egyptian Paper Plant, Egyptian Papyrus, Chufa); 

 Duhchium; Eleocharis; Eriophorum (Cotton-Grass, 

 Wool-Grass); Mapania; Scirpus (Bulrush Sedge). 



Order 15. PBINCIPES 



29. Palmaceae (from the Latin name palma). 

 PALM FAMILY. Fig. 9. Woody plants of various habit, 

 low, or arborescent, or climbing, usually unbranched, 

 sometimes spinescent : leaves forming a crown at summit 

 of stem except in Calamus, alternate, coriaceous, pal- 

 mately or pinnately veined, entire or pinnatifid or 

 palmatifid, often very large: inflorescence a simple or 



much-branched spadix, with or without a subtending 

 spathe, the latter often woody; flowers unisexual, 

 rarely bisexual, often sunk in the spadix; perianth of 

 6 parts in 2 series, greenish, often woody, valvate in 

 the staminate, imbricated or convolute in the pistillate 

 flower; stamens 6, rarely 3 or many, on or around a 

 disk, separate or united; carpels 3, rarely fewer, sepa- 

 rate or forming a 1-3-celled ovary; each cell 1-ovuled, 

 but all except one seed in the ovary may abort; stigmas 

 usually 3: fruit a berry or drupe; pericarp fleshy or 

 fibrous; seeds albuminous. 



Palmaceae has 128 genera and about 1,000 species of 

 tropical distribution; 10-15 species are found in the 

 southern United States. The largest genera are 

 Calamus with about 200 species, Bactris with 90 

 species and Chamaedorea with 60 species. The family 

 is very distinct, having no close relatives, but it evi- 

 dently belongs to the spathe- and spadix-bearing group. 

 The habit, coriaceous plicate leaves which are entire 

 in the bud, the woody flowers and inflorescence, the 

 3 sepals and 3 petals, the usually 6 stamens, and the 

 3 carpels, each with 1 seed, are together distinctive. 



Palm leaves are always entire in the bud, and if 

 later pinnatifid or palmatifid, become so on unfolding. 

 In this respect the palms are unique. The leaves are 

 plicate in the bud, and, on opening, the plates of the fan 

 expand and either remain united or, more frequently, 

 split down along the folds. In the pinnate species 

 the rachis between the folds elongates so that the 

 divisions are separated, and the well-known palm leaf 

 is produced. The splitting may be at the top of the 

 fold, or at the bottom, depending on the genus, and 

 is an important characteristic in classification. Some 

 of the largest seeds in the plant kindgom belong to the 

 Palmaceae, as, for example, the coconut. This fruit is 

 produced from an originally 3-celled ovary, 2 cells of 

 which abort. 



Next to the grasses, the palms are the most generally 

 useful of all plants. It is said that probably there is 

 not a species but that is useful in some way. Many 

 yield textile fibers. The wood is used to build houses 

 and the leaves to thatch the roofs. The leaves are also 

 made into mats, baskets, hats, and the like. The 

 fibrous bud-sheaths are used as hats, or for fiber. Some 

 species contain starch or sugar in the trunk. The fruits 

 of many contain sugar, protein, starch, or oil. Compara- 

 tively few are medicinal. "The palm is called King of 

 Plants and is said to supply all the wants of an inhabi- 

 tant of the tropical zone. It yields sugar, milk, solid 

 cream, wine, vinegar, oil, cordage, cloth, cups, wood 

 for building, thatch and other products." Coconuts, 

 the fruit of Cocos nucifera, form one of the most im- 

 portant foods of the tropics. The date fruit (Phoenix 

 dactylifera of the Sahara) is also important. Metroxylon 

 Rumphii, and other species, yield sago. A fermented 

 liquor known as palm wine, laymi or arrack, is made 

 from the juice of Arenga saccharifera, Borassus flabelli- 

 formis, Metroxylon Rumphii, Mauritia vinifera, and 

 others. The central bud of the cabbage palm and 

 others is used for food. Most palm oil is from the fruit 

 of Elans gidneensis of West Africa, which is now culti- 

 vated in America. It is used like olive oil , or in the 

 North for making soap. Vegetable wax is obtained 

 from the leaves and stems of Ceroxylon andicolum of 

 Peru, also from Copernicia cerifera (carnauba wax). 

 The famous 'giant double coconut is from Lodoicea 

 sechellarum of the Seychelle Islands. The fruit of 

 Areca Catechu of the East Indies and India yields an 

 astringent juice which, mixed with the leaves of the 

 betel pepper and lime, is chewed by the inhabitants 

 of tropical Asia. Coconut fiber is important for making 

 ship cables. The very slender stems of Calamus, often 

 300 feet or even 500 feet long (it is reported 1,200 or 

 1,800 feet, but not verified) and scarcely larger than a 

 pipe-stem or a finger, are called rattan, and used for 

 furniture. Much of the dragon's blood of the druggists 



