45 8 Palmacece. 



SUB-CLASS II MONOCOTYLEDONS OR ENDOGENS. 



Stem destitute of central pith, not increasing by annual 

 layers, vascular bundles irregularly scattered amongst the 

 cellular tissue. Leaves usually parallel-veined. Seeds with 1 

 cotyledon. Paits of the flower generally in whorls of three. 



DIVISION I.PETALOIDEJE. 



Perianth usually composed of 6 segments arranged in 1 or 2 

 regular whorls, all or some of them coloured, or rarely green. 

 For exceptions see Aroldecc and Typhacece. 



ORDER L PALMACE.3S. 



This noble family of arborescent plants unfortunately con- 

 tributes but little towards the permanent decoration of our 

 gardens in consequence of none of the species being perfectly 

 hardy in our climate. But as some of the more robust species 

 are employed in the sub- tropical garden during the Summer 

 months, we must devote a little space to their consideration. 

 With very few exceptions, the Palms have unbranched stems 

 crowned with a tuft of usually very large leaves. The extreme 

 forms exhibit two distinct kinds of foliage, though there are 

 species having foliage of a somewhat intermediate character. 

 There h the flabelliform or fan-shaped leaf, as in Livistona 

 australis, syn. Corypha australis (fig. 221), a handsome 

 Australian species with immensely large shining leaves and a 

 trunk from 50 to 70 or more feet high ; and the pinnate or 

 feathery leaf, as in the Date Palm, Phcenix dactyliferci (fig. 

 222), which grows from 60 to 80 feet high, and is extensively 

 cultivated in Northern Africa and elsewhere for its edible 

 fruit. Before enumerating a few of the hardier species 

 suitable for the embellishment of the garden in Summer, we 

 will give the principal technical characters. The stems of 



