558 LXXVII. PALM^. [Oocos, 



value of P. between 436 and 838, Puckle. Commonly known as I'orcupine 

 wood, made into ornaments and fancy articles ; the wood of trees past bearing is 

 used for building. The leaves are employed for thatching, and the web-like net 

 of fibres which surrounds the stems at the base of the petioles is made into 

 bags and paper. The cut flower-stalks, like those of Borassus and Gwryota, 

 yield sugar and toddy, from which arrack is distilled and vinegar made ; but the- 

 nuts are the most valuable part of this useful tree. The thick fibrous rind (coir) 

 is made into ropes, mats, carpets, brushes, and a variety of other articles. The 

 hard inner shell of the nut is made into spoons and cups, and is carved into all 

 kinds of ornaments. The oil forms an important article of trade, it is used for 

 cooking and burning, and in Europe for the manufacture of soap and candles. 

 For a detailed account of the cultivation and uses of the Cocoa-nut tree, see 

 Drury, Useful Plants of India, 147. 



Mceis guineensis, Linn. ; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, ii. t. 54, 56, of the 

 tribe of Gocoinece, is indigenous in tropical Western Africa, and cultivated 

 in Brazil. Both the albumen and the flesh of the orange-coloured or red 

 drupe »re, like seed and pulp of the Olive, full of fat oU, the Palm Oil of 

 commerce, which during the last fifty years has become a most importajit article 

 of trade. The flowers are monoicous, but on distinct erect, compact, many- 

 flowered panicles. The male flowers are crowded in numerous thick oyHndric 

 spikes, anthers 6 on the teeth of a cylindric tube. The drupes, 1-2 in. long, are 

 ovoid, closely packed, 600-800, with lanceolate bracts between, in a huge ovoid 

 compact panicle, often weighing 40 lb. A second species, E. mdanococca, Geertn., 

 with a partly decumbent and creeping stem, is indigenous in South America. 



6. CALAMUS, Linn. 



Stems long flexible, scandent or supported by trees and Bamboos, rare- 

 ly short, stiff, and erect; the upper part covered with leaves and the 

 sheaths of fallen leaves, the lower part annulate. Leaves pinnate, alter- 

 nate, remote ; pinnse flat, linear, rarely oblong or ouneate, often armed 

 along nerves and edges with spinous bristles j petiole and the long persis- 

 tent Eimplexicaul sheaths armed with rigid dark-coloured prickles, often 

 flat and placed in continuous, horizontal or oblique lines, sometimes form- 

 ing complete rings ; petioles or sheaths terminating in long whip-like 

 thongs armed with prickles, scattered, or in oblique lines or rings. 

 Flowers monoicous or dioicous, in long axillary or extra^axUlary panicles j 

 peduncles often connate at base with the sheath of the next following leaf, 

 armed with prickles, the main branches in the axUs of cylindric sheaths, 

 truncate or terminating in a flat or concave blade ; branches and branchlets 

 generally enclosed in a succession of cylindric or funnel-shaped sheaths, 

 Male flowers in distichous, often scorpioid spikes, in the axUs of an outer, 

 generally broad-ovate and acute bract, with an inner, bicuspidate and cup- 

 shaped bract, which may be regarded as analogous respectively to the flowe^ 

 ing glume and palea of grasses. Calyx campanulate, 3-dentate. Petals 3, 

 valvate in bud. Stamens 6, surrounding a rudimentary 3-fid ovary ; anthers 

 sagittate, adnate at the back. Female flowers often pedicellate, supported 

 by 3 or more imbricate bracts, spirally arranged on the branchlets ; calyx and 

 petals like those of male flowers. Ovary 3-celled, surrounded by 6 sterile 

 stamens, closely covered with imbricate reflexed scales, styles 3, recurved, 

 1 erect ovule in each ceU. Fruit 1- rarely 2-seeded, nearly dry, with a 



