THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CETLON. 683 



linear, erect, affixed nearly at the base, bilociilar ; connective mucro- 

 milate, pollen elliptical, furrowed lengthways. Female spadix 

 simple, bearing on the average from 6-7 jQowers, forming a dense 

 cluster, surrounded by bracts, placed in a spiral direction, the upper- 

 most five of which, being often much longer than the style, but 

 generally shorter and pure white, have the appearance of petals ; 

 staminodes numerous, free, inserted in the torus between the 

 petaloid bracts and the ovary. Ovary 6-9 celled, each cell with a 

 solitary, sessile, erect ovule, attached to an axile placenta; style 

 elongated, splitting into 6-9 branches, stigmatose on the edges. 

 Fruit a collection of from 6-7 drupes, which is as large as a 

 man's head, and stands at first erect, but when approaching matu- 

 rity, it hangs down. A plant bears at one time from Q-"] of these 

 heads, each weighing when ripe, about 25 pounds. Drupe covered 

 with hard woodj" protruberances, contaiias from 6-9 seeds, but 

 generally seven ; testa thick, bony ; embryo peripherical and placed 

 near the hilum. 



Habitat. — The ivory plant is confined to the continent of South 

 America, between 9^ N. L. and 8^ S. L. and 70^-79^' W. 

 Long. It inhabits damp localities, such as confined valleys, and 

 banks of rivers. It is found not owlj on the lower coast region, as 

 in Daiien, but also at an elevation of more than 3,000 feet above 

 the sea, as in Ocana. It is generally found in separate groves, 

 seldom intermixed with other trees or shrubs. 



Uses. — The albumen of the fruit is almost chemically pure 

 cellulose, the so-called vegetable ivory. In the beginning it is 

 milky and serves as food on account of its flavour, but finally it 

 becomes white and resembles so exactly the ivory obtained from 

 elephants, as to be frequently passed off for such, and even employ- 

 ed by mechanics in place of that article. It has not yet been 

 accurately ascertained when the vegetable ivory first came to be 

 imported into Europe for commercial purposes ; but there is reason 

 to believe that it was shortly after the Spanish Colonies obtained 

 their independence (about 1826). At the present day the ivory is 

 largely exported into North America, England, Germany, etc. 

 The Indians cover their cottages with the leaves of this tree ; but 

 this is only done when those of other palms are not procurable, as 

 the latter last much longer than the former. 



Morren has given a more detailed description of the nut in Vol. I 

 'of " Dondonsea, ou Recueil d'Observations de Botanique, p. 74," 

 from which we give the following extract as translated by W. J. 

 Hooker*: — 



" The external covering of the ivory-nut (seed) is so hard as to 

 be almost stony, yellowish-grey, smooth, and destitute of gloss ; 



* W. J. H. Some account of the Ivory Palm ; in Kew Journal of Bot. I, 

 (1849), 209-211. 



