148 THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



lobes have been found. The form of the nuts 

 is singular, and cannot be compared with that 

 of any other production of the vegetable king- 

 dom. Two highly remarkable circumstances 

 in the history of the lodoicea are the duration 

 of its blossoms, and the period necessary for 

 maturing its fruit ; for the latter purpose seven 

 or eight years are required. 



The lodoicea grows in every variety of soil, 

 but delights most in the vegetable mould of the 

 deep gorges of the mountains. It is nevertheless 

 found on the bare mountain tops, and forms a 

 very conspicuous and remarkable object in such 

 situations. It is curious that the vegetation of 

 the nut should be prevented by its being buried ; 

 but if suffered simply to rest on the ground, in 

 a situation not too much exposed to the sun, 

 germination readily takes place. The purposes 

 to which the produce of the lodoicea is applied 

 are numerous. The fruit in its simple, fresh 

 state, is an agreeable and refreshing aliment ; 

 when ripe it yields oil ; its germ furnishes a 

 very sweet food. Of the shell are made vessels 

 of various shapes and sizes, that serve the 

 Soychellois for nearly all domestic purposes. 

 The entire nut is an article of commerce with 

 India, where one of its uses is as an astringent 

 medicine. The trunk is employed in building ; 



