THE BOTANY OF BERMUDA. ie; 
ish plants; the flowers, which begin to appear in April, are as dear to the 
Bermudian as the primrose to the Englishman. (S. anceps in Lane’s 
list; S. alatwm, Hook.) 
VII.—DI0ScoRE. 
- Dioscorea lutea, Mey. Yam. 
The yam is grown in Bermuda, and usually produced at fruit and 
flower shows, but is rare and does not enter into the ordinary diet of 
any class of natives. (JD. sativa, Linn.) 
VIII.—NAIADEA. 
Ruppia maritima, Linn. A marsh weed. 
Zostera marina, Linn. Sea-wrack; Grass-weed. 
Found in shallow sea-water, but not properly a sea-weed. 
IX.—PALMZ. 
Sabal Palmetto, Lodd, or Chamerops Palmetto, Michx. Palmetto. 
Native, and universal; originally American, not West Indian. The 
Palmetto furnished the first settlers with a sweet fruit of which they 
published exaggerated praises; with a vegetable obtained by cutting 
out the heart of the young leaves; with an intoxicating beverage they 
called bibey; and with covering for their cabins, and even their churches. 
Hence it is very frequently mentioned, and numerous iaws were passed 
for its preservation. There are trees of 40 to 50 feet high. The leaves 
are still extensively used for making plat, which was formerly exported. 
We learn from Raynal that it was fashionable in Europe in the last cen- 
tury. Fans and many fancy articles are also made from them, but the 
present inhabitants are not sufficiently industrious to make them of com- 
mercial value. Flowers in June and July. 
S. Adansoni, Guer. Small thatch, or Dwarf palmetto. 
Also American, and seldom to be found. It was formerly common 
and still occurs near Paynter’s Vale. 
S. Carat and 8. Mucini were planted at Mount Langton with promise 
of permanence. 
Ovedoxa oleracea, Mart. Cabbage palm. 
Introduced. Five conspicuous trees, called the sisters, near Hamil- 
ton, attract the attention of every visitor; there are many others. 
Astrocaryum aureum, Gr. and Wendl. Gru-gru, or Gri-gri. 
Introduced; not common. There are two fine specimens at Mount 
Bull. Nat. Mus. No. 25——8 
