PALMETTO. 137 



globose head formed of the large roniid leaves, and rough furrowed 

 dark brown bark, reaching a height of 40 and a diameter of 3 

 feet. (Plate XX.) 



It oc'^.urs from Smith Island off Cape Fear river, North Caro- 

 lina, to Key Largo, Florida, and along the Gulf coast to the 

 Appalachicola river ; reaching its best development on the west 

 coast of Florida, south of Cedar Keys. 



In North Carolina, it is found on deep sandy or loamy soil 

 with the live oak, American olive, and water oak, and attains a 

 height of 30 feet and a diameter rarely exceeding 18 inches. Its 

 rarity renders it of little commercial importance. 



The leaves are large, fan shaped, pal mated, and borne on stems 

 18 to 24 inches long. The flowers are small, greenish, and in 

 small clusters, and the fruit is a small rounded drupe. 



The wood is light and soft ; light brown in color ; the fibro- 

 vascular bundles hard, dark, and difficult to work. It is imper- 

 vious to the attacks of the teredo, very durable in water, and is 

 largely used for piles and wharves. The inner portion of the 

 young plant is edible, and is often pickled. 



