150 PALMS 



the reader's patience, I will now conclude the chapter with a 

 few general remarks. 



Until Linnaeus's death, but fifteen species of palms were known ; 

 while at present more than 440 have been methodically described, 

 and every new voyage of discovery in the tropical zone reveals 

 new forms to the botanist. 



The difficulty of collecting palm-blossoms for the purpose of 

 ascertaining the species is far greater than any one, judging 

 merely from the vegetation of Europe, would imagine. Most 

 palms bloom but once a year — in January and February — in 

 the central equatorial regions. Many remain in flower only a 

 few days, and frequently over spaces of many thousand square 

 miles there are but three or four species, so that the botanist 

 would have to be ubiquitous in order to become acquainted 

 with the palms of a continent. Add to this the difficulty of 

 gathering blossoms growing in dense forests or on swampy 

 banks, and often hanging from the top of shafts sixty feet high, 

 and armed with formidable thorns ! In the missions of Gruiana, 

 the Indians are so barbarous, so stoically indifferent, and their 

 wants so few, that no inducement can tempt them to move a 

 foot from their path, to the great vexation of the naturalist, 

 who sees these same people climb the bush-ropes, and ascend 

 the highest trees, with cat-like agility, whenever the caprice ( )f 

 the moment prompts them to do so. 



During Humboldt's stay in the Havana, the Palma Eeal 

 (Oreodoxa regia)wsis in full bloom about the town, and, though 

 the great naturalist offered two dollars for a single bunch of tlie 

 snow-white flowers, he was for several days unable to obtain a 

 single specimen; for in a tropical country man never works, 

 unless compelled by absolute necessity. 



A knowledge of these difficulties serves to show in a bright' r 

 light the indefatigable perseverance of the naturalists who ha ^ * 

 carried the torch of science into the dark shades of the prime\ a] 

 forest. 



Though no trees are more characteristic of the tropics thai 

 the palms, yet specimens are found far within the temperate 

 regions. 



Along with the date-tree the Chamcerops humilis graces th( 

 environs of Nizza, while in America the Chamcerops palmetU 

 reaches 34° N. lat. In Australia, the Coi^pha australis grow: 



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