SPADICIFLOKjE. 393 



of the ripe fruit in this Order, easily reducible, however, to a single type. 

 As a rule, there are 3 carpels, either distinct or united into a 3-celled 

 ovary, each carpel commonly producing 1 ovule ; in Cocos, however, 2 

 out of the 3 cells are rudimentary, and thus only one ovule is developed 

 even at first; in Areca and others, 3 distinct cells and ovules originally 

 exist ; in Chamcerops and Phwnix the 3 carpels form separate 1-ovuled 

 pistils ; in Borassiis, a 3-celled, 3-ovuled ovary exists, and the same in 

 Lodoicea. In the course of the maturation of the fruit, the pericarp be- 

 comes variously developed, and more or less of the ovules or of the distinct 

 simple ovaries are aborted. In Cocos the pericarp is developed around the 

 one perfect cell, externally as fibrous husk, internally as the woody shell 

 of the nut ; the fleshv part of the nut (hollow) constitutes the albumen 

 of the seed surrounded by a brown testa ; and the embryo is lodged in a 

 cavity in the substance o*f the perisperm, at one side, near the base (fig. 

 477). In Areca, 2 out of the 3 cells and ovules are abortive ; the pericarp 

 ripens into a fibrous husk round a solid seed, chiefly composed of horny 

 ruminated perisperm (the Areca-nut). In Chamcerops and Phoenix, 1 out 

 of the 3 simple ovaries ripens into a berry; the pericarp, becoming 

 the pulp (Date), contains a " stone " or seed, which is a solid mass of 

 horny perisperm with the embryo imbedded in a small cavity a little be- 

 neath the surface (fig. 476), its place being indicated by a papilla on the 

 surface. In Borassus, all the ovules become developed, and form 3 fibrous 

 " stones " in the fruit. In Lodoicea it often happens that 2 or even 3 

 ovules coalesce during ripening, forming large, hollow, double or triple 

 nuts, of the same character as the Cocoa-nut, enclosed in a large fibrous 

 husk (these are the " Double Cocoa-nuts " of the Seychelles Islands). 

 In Sagus and other genera the ovary is clothed with imbricated scales 

 pointing to the base, which ripen into woody structures, forming a peculiar 

 hard-scaled covering to the fruit. These scales, according to Spruce, are 

 rudimentary leaf-blades [scales ?] reflected. 



The subdivisions of the Order depend upon the habit, foliage, nature of 

 the fruit, attachment of the seed, position of the embryo, &c. 



Distribution. A large Order, consisting of about a thousand species, 

 chiefly tropical ; scarce as regards species in Africa ; a few advancing 

 into temperate latitudes in North America, Europe and Asia, and New 

 Zealand. Remains of Palms have been found in the Upper Cretaceous 

 and more recent rocks. 



Qualities and Uses. Having (apparently) no noxious properties, the 

 very varied products of this noble Order of plants render them of an 

 importance to man second, perhaps, only to that of the Cereal Grasses. 

 Their juices and secretions furnish sugar, starch, oil, wax, and resins; fer- 

 mentation of the juices of many produces spirituous liquids. Some have 

 edible fruits of great importance ; the succulent buds of others are used 

 as esculent vegetables ; their leaves are applicable to countless uses, from 

 thatching huts to plaiting mats and hats ; the fibrous substance of the 

 sheathing petioles furnishes materials for cordage, or, when more solid, 

 supplies a valuable substitute for bristles and whalebone ; the fibrous husks 

 of the fruits afford textile materials ; the trunks of some kinds become 

 valuable timber ; and the hard perisperm of the seeds of several kinds is 

 very largely used for turners' work connected with cabinet-making &c. 



Saccharine juice, furnishing sugar or fermented liquid, according to the 



