PALMALES. 



403 



Orders Nipaceee and Phytelephasiese, both of tlie tropics. In 

 the latter, Phytelephas macrocarpa, of Central America, is remarkable 

 for the ivory-like endosperm in its large seeds ; he.nce its name of 

 Ivory Nut. 



Order Palmaceee. The Palm Family. Trees, shrubs, or woody 

 climbers ; natives almost exclusively of the torrid zone, or the adjacent 



FIGS. 353-6. ILLUSTRATIONS OP PALMACE.E. 



FIG. 856. 



FIG. 355. 



Fig. 353. Frnit of Cocoa-nut, a, exocarp ; b, endocarp ; c, testa ; cl, endosperm ; 

 e, embryo ; /, milk cavity. 



Fig. 354. Cocoa-nut seen from below. 



Fig. 355. Vertical section of a Date, showing seed inside. 

 Fig. 356. Seed of Date iu cross-section, showing embryo. 



hotter portions of the temperate zones, being rarely found beyond 40* 

 North and 85 South latitude. The arborescent species are among the 

 most striking and majestic of plants ; their long cylindrical stems fre-' 

 quently rise to the height of thirty metres (100 feet), bearing at their 

 summits spreading crowns of large leaves, and drooping clusters of fruit. 

 The whole number of known species is not far from one thousand. 

 The economic value of the Palms is very great ; in fact it may be ques- 



