10 



>vn as the Ravine of the Coco de Mer, and is said to be 



charming palms rising to a height of ninety or a hun- 

 dred feet and bearing aloft a crown of magnificent fan-shaped 

 eaves, often twenty feet long and ten or twelve feet wide. 



The accompanying photograph was made from a specimen of 

 ;his palm which graces the collection installed in house no. 15, 

 of the conservatories, on the central bench near the entrance to 

 irge dome. There are few of these in cultivation under 

 perhaps but four or five in this country, and I believe all of 

 originated with Mr. Falconer, at Pittsburgh. The Garden 

 Di-tunate in securing one of these. Until it became of suffi- 

 cient vigor, cultural requirements necessitated that it be kept at 

 the propagating houses. It has been recently transferred to the 

 position indicated above. At the base of this plant can still be 

 seen a portion of the seed, its double character being quite evi- 

 dent. On the second floor of the museum building, on the middle 

 shelf of case no. 63, will be found a specimen of this fruit, with 

 the outside husk removed, showing clearly its structure. 



The many economic uses of this palm make it of exceeding 

 value to the natives of the Seychelles. The heart of the crown 

 of leaves is eaten as a vegetable, as is done with the cabbage 

 palm. The leaves, perhaps, are the most important, being used 

 extensively in house-building, not only for thatching, but' also for 

 making walls and partitions ; and the down of the young leaves 

 is used in filling mattresses and pillows. The nuts are made 

 into utensils of various kinds, and the young leaves furnish ma- 

 terial for making hats. 



A remarkable feature of this tree is the length of time required 



The fruits are oblong in shape and weigh from thirty to fifty 

 pounds, and, as sometimes ten of these occur in a bunch, the 

 aggregate weight of such a cluster is considerable. Upon the 

 removal of the outer husk the two oblong nuts are exposed to 

 view, firmly united ; it is this character which has given the name 

 of double cocoanut to the tree. 



This palm was first given the specific name maldivica in 



