636 cocoACE^. 



over many lands are chiefly Cocos nucifera, Acrocomia sclerocarpa, and 

 Borassus flabelliformis . It is probable that the number of species thus 

 scattered over the face of nature will be found to amount to 1000 or more. 

 Of these, not a few love the humid banks of rivulets and streams ; others 

 occupy the shores of the ocean, and some ascend into alpine regions. Some 

 collect into dense forests, others spring up singly in clusters over the plains, 

 {Martins.) If this statement be true as to the probable number of Palms, 

 how little can be known of their structure, seeing that not more than 175« 

 are at this moment, (1836,) described, of which 119 are S. American, 14 

 African, and 42 E. Indian. The testimony of Martins is, however, con- 

 firmed by Humboldt, who also asserts that there must be an incredible 

 number still to discover in equinoctial regions, especially if we consider how 

 little is yet known of Africa, Asia, New Holland, and America. A differ- 

 ent opinion is entertained by Professor Schouw of Copenhagen. He seems 

 to consider that we are acquainted already with the greater part of the 

 Palms ; for he says, " it appears from the report of travellers that such Palm 

 woods as those of S. America are less frequent in other parts of the world. 

 Africa and N. Holland seem to be less favorable to this tribe, for on the 

 Congo, Smith found only 3-4 Palms ; in Guinea we know merely of the 

 same number, and of the other Africa Palms, 6 belong to the Isles of Bour- 

 bon and France ; New Holland has, in the torrid zone, three species, 

 while Forster's Prodromus of the Flora of the South Sea Islands contains 

 four." " The most northern limit of Palms is that of Chamserops Palmet- 

 to, Michx. in N. America, in lat. 34°-36'', and of C. humilis, in Europe, 

 near Nice, in 43°-44° N. lat. They are found in the southern hemisphere 

 as low as 38° in New Zealand." {Lindl.) In S. Africa has only been found 1 

 species, viz. Phoenix reclinata, Jacg. (Harvey.) Properties under the 

 species. 



A. ARECEiE. 



(Arecineee, Mart.; — Endl. gen. pi. I, p. 245.) 

 Cham^dorea, Willd. (Spreng syst. 2, p. 13, No. 1332 ; — Endl. I. c.) 

 \. gracilis, Willd. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 136.) b S. America. Has been 

 introduced into H. C. G. Fl. ? 

 Hyophorbe, Giirtn. (Endl. gen. pi. 1, p. 245.) 



1. indica, Giirtn. (fr. 2, p. 186, t. 120, /. 1 ■,—Mart. palm. 164, t. 143, 

 /. 1. — Areca luteacens, Bory.; Spreng. syst. 2, p. \o9. — Sublimia, 

 Commers. MSS.) b Bourbon. Introduced in 1839. Has not fl. 

 Oreodoxa, Willd. (Endl. gen. pi. \,p. 247.) 



1 . oleracea, Endl. (Areca oleracea, Jacq. amer. 278, t. 170 ; ed. pict. 135, 

 t. 235 ; — Roxb. H. B. p. 68. — Euterpe caribsea, Spreng. syst. 2, p. 

 140.) Edible Cabbage Tree, b W. Indies. Introduced into H. C. G. 

 in 1807, but had not fl. up to 1814. In the Serampore garden it has 

 now been cultivated for more than 15 years, without fl. The green 

 top of the trunk is eaten in the W. Indies, both raw and cooked. 

 2.rrgia, Humb. and Bonpl. (Schult. syst. 8, p. 1491— Oenocarpus 



