174 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Nut solitary, elliptical, even, hard, whitish, 

 tipped with a point connected with the stig- 

 ma, and internally lined with a loose brown 

 membranous integument, closely enfolding 

 the kernel, which is also elliptical, white, 

 firm, uniform, completely occupying the 

 shell, and consisting entirely of albumen. In 

 its upper part, immediately under the stig- 

 ma, we discovered a small round cavity, 

 where the embryo should have been, but no 

 traces of it were to be found, for want of im- 

 pregnation by the male pollen, which is pro- 

 duced on a separate tree. Probably the 

 flavour of the nuts might have been im- 

 proved, had they been impregnated. 



" Enough has been said to shew the near 

 affinity of this genus to Zamia, from which 

 it is chiefly, and indeed sufficiently, distin- 

 guished by its drupce growing on a true frond, 

 contrasted with the amentaceous fruit of Za- 

 mia. The two genera, perhaps, constitute an 

 intermediate order between Palmce and Fi- 

 lices, but are surely most akin to the former."* 



The Cycus revoluta is also a native of 

 some parts of China ; but it is not used as a 

 food in that country, and only cultivated for 



* Linn. Trans, vol. vi. 



