Florida Swamps and Forests 



ment there is only the terminal bud to con- 

 sider. The young palm of this species emerges 

 from the ground in full strength, one cluster 

 of leaves arched every way, making a sphere 

 about ten or twelve feet in diameter. The out- 

 side lower leaves gradually become yellow, 

 wither, and break off, the petiole snapping 

 squarely across, a few inches from the stem. 

 New leaves develop with wonderful rapidity. 

 They stand erect at first, but gradually arch 

 outward as they expand their blades and 

 lengthen their petioles. 



New leaves arise constantly from the center 

 of the grand bud, while old ones break away 

 from the outside. The splendid crowns are 

 thus kept about the same size, perhaps a little 

 larger than in youth while they are yet on the 

 ground. As the development of the central 

 axis goes on, the crown is gradually raised on a 

 stem of about six to twelve inches in diameter. 

 This stem is of equal thickness at the top and 

 at the bottom and when young is roughened 

 with the broken petioles. But these petiole- 

 [ 117 I 



