543 



Order PALMACE^:, or Palm Tribe. 



721. Palms were called by Linnaeus the Princes of the 

 Vegetable kingdom ; whilst to Lilies he assigned the designation 

 of Patricians or Nobles. The Palms exceed most other plants 

 in size, and surpass them all in grandeur and majesty of aspect. 

 They naturally, therefore, commanded the earliest attention of 

 mankind ; and the innumerable purposes to which their fruit, 



FIG. 194 COCOA NUT PALM. 



their leaves, and their stems have been applied, as food, clothing, 

 and shelter, have worthily retained for them that regard 

 which their beauty at first excited. They all bear a strong 

 general resemblance to each other, and hence were early distin- 



