72 THE PALMS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA. 



procurecl for the tree the name of " gingerbread 

 tree." The kernels are turned into beads for 

 rosaries. It also yields a kind of gum-nsin, 

 ■which bore the name of Egyptian Bdellium, and 

 was formerly esteemed a valuable medicine, 

 though it has now no repute. Another species 

 of this genus {Hyplucne coriacea) has a similarly 

 forked stem, and is found on the eastern coast 

 of Africa, at Melinda, 3° south latitude, and 

 extends as far as Natal, 30° south latitude, 

 though by some authors the Natal plant is 

 described as still another species, (ITijphane 

 Natalensis.) 



We have nothing to relate of interest as 

 regards the other African palms, but the 

 interiors of both Africa and Madagascar are 

 so little known, especially to botanists, that 

 very many palms which are now entirely im- 

 known, will probably be discovered in both 

 the continent and the inland, and they may be 

 found to yield products of great importance to 

 the commerce and welfare of Africa. 



