THE PALMS OF ASIA. I'll 



Of a very different appearance is the next 

 palm we have to mention ; so different, indeed, 

 that to a careless or slight observer, it -would 

 not seem a palm at all, but would either be 

 esteemed a kind of vine or enormous grass. 

 We refer to the genus Calamus, which contains 

 a great many species, and which are true palms, 

 though so unlike in aspect to those already 

 described. Their slender stems, which are the 

 canes of commerce, are of enormous length, 

 and climb over the trees and bushes in the 

 close, damp forests of the Asiatic islands, where 

 the sun's rays can scarcely penetrate. In such 

 places they form spiny bushes, which obstruct 

 all passage into those jungles, rising to the 

 tops of the highest trees, and then fliUing again, 

 60 as to resemble a prodigious length of cable, 

 adorned, however, with the most beautiful 

 leaves, pinnated, or terminating in graceful 

 tendrils. The different species of calamus are 

 principally confined to the hotter parts of the 

 East Indies and the Indian Archipelago, and 

 some of them are the longest of known plants. 

 The stem of Calamus verus is stated to be one 

 hundred feet long ; that of Calamus oblonr/us, 

 three hundred to four Imndrcd ; Calamus rii- 

 dentum is said to be upwards of five hundred 

 feet long ; and Calamus extaisus, six hundred 



