THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 701 



scoparia, Lam.). The fibres, divested of the glutinous matter which 

 binds them together, are extremely divisible, as fine as flax, and 

 can be used, in spite of their inferior length (10-16 inches), in the 

 preparation of flax cotton. 



Cultivation in Eukope. — The Dwarf Fan-Palm is a greenhouse 

 tree of very easy culture in a compost of rich strong loam, to which 

 is added a small portion of vegetable mould and sand. Perfect 

 drainage and copious supplies of water throughout the summer, are 

 most essential to success. Propagation may be effected by suckers 

 or by seeds. 



If the palm is employed in sub-tropical gardening, it should 

 have a situation sheltered from strong winds. 



Illustration. — Plate X shows a clump of Dwarf Fan Palms 

 which are growing in the Government Horticultural Gardens of 

 Lucknow. The leaves of two specimens have been badly attacked by 

 insects. — We have to thank Mr. H. J. Davies who kindly supplied 

 us with the photograph. 



TRACHYCARPUS, H. Wendl. Bull, Soc. Bot. Franc. VIII. 429. 



From the Greek " Trachys"=hard, rough, and " carpos " 



fruit, probably in allusion to the rough, hairy fruit. 



Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III. 251 fspec. 3, 4, 7), t, 125.— Wall. 

 PL Asiat. Ear. Ill, t. 211.— Bot. Mag., t. 5221 (excl. fig. 6, 

 7.)— Griff. Palms Brit. Ind., 133, t. 227 A, B.— Kurz For. Fl. 

 II. 526.— Benth. & Hook. Gen. PI. III. II. 928, 98. 



Tall, unarmed palms. Leaves suborbicular or reniform, plic- 

 ately multifid ; segments narrow, rhachis 0. Spadices many, 

 interfoliar, stout, branched ; spathes many, sheathing, embracing 

 the peduncle and branches of the spadix, coriaceous, compressed, 

 tomentose ; bracts and bracteoles minute. Flowers small, poly- 

 gamo-monoecious. Sepals 3, ovate ; petals 3, broadly ovate, val- 

 vate. Stamens 6, filaments free ; anthers short, dorsifixed. 

 Carpels 3 ; stigmas 3, recurved ; ovules basilar. Drupes 1-3, 

 globose or oblong ; style subterminal. Seed erect, ventrally 

 grooved ; hilum basilar ; albumen equable ; embryo dorsal. 



Species 3. — Himalaya, China, Japan. 



Cultivation in Europe. — All the species of this genus are 

 easily cultivated ; they are greenhouse or half-hardy palms. They 

 2u 



