THE PALMS OF BEITISR 1X1)1 A AXI) CEYLOX. 915 



occasionally to adulterate bees" wax ; it is, however, mostly iiiiport- 

 (1 into Europe for manufacturing candles and for various other 

 purposes.^ 



From the juice of the palm arrack and syrup are prepared. The 

 roots are used medicinally as a sulDstitute for sarsaparilla. 



From the inner part of the trunk the natives prepare for home 

 ^msumption a kind of farina. 



The wood, especially of the lower part of the adult tree, is very 

 durable, and lasts for many years, even when exposed to the 

 weather ; for this reason the trunk is used for almost every ptirpose, 

 •specially for all the framework of houses and the enclosures for 

 cattle. The wood is not less useful in the manufacture of musical 

 instruments. 



CuLTiVATiox ]N Europe. — This species is a stove palm. It is 

 best cultivated in a compost of two parts of loam, one of peat, and 

 one of sand. Perfect drainage and liberal supply of water are 

 required. 



II.— BOJaASSIN^E. 



Spadix simple (jr little branched with thick cylindrical twigs ; 

 flowers markedly diclinous, dimorphic, invested with bracts, the 

 male in 1-8 cincinni in grooves of the twigs; carpels o, fully 

 united, producing a 1-seeded drupe ; leaves fan-shaped, induplicate. 

 The onljr tribe is : 



3. BORASSEAE. 



DiSTRiBLiTiux. — Tropical Africa from Guinea to Egypt and Natal, 

 Mascarine Islands, Seychelles Islands, Coast of Arabia, East Indies, 

 Philippines, New Guinea, Borneo, Sumatra. 



The tribe comprises the following genera : I'JboUdocatyus, 

 I\fedeuiia. Htjj^ihx'ne, Laiania, Bora-ssus, Lodoicea. 



Key to the gex'era described below. 

 Stamens C. — Fruit by the abortion of 2 carpels 

 unilocular with one central woody, ovate 

 stone ... ... ... ... ... Ht/2Jhcene. 



■" Gissern, P. Die Amerikanische Carnaubapalme unci die Gewinnunjj- des Carn- 

 aubavvachses. Seifens Ztg. Augsburg-, 28 ^1901) ."(.si, .")<i7-r>'.(,s. 



Zimmermann, A. Die Wachsimlme iCoixmicia ceriferci). P. fiaiizer. Tang-a, B 



(,l!IU7), l!ll-l»Jo. 



