PALMS—THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND USES. 91 
Tue Paums (Palmacee). 
The Palms, so conspicuous in tropical countries for their 
lofty pillar-like stems, surmounted by apparently inaccessible 
fruit or gigantic foliage, are no less remarkable for the many 
useful purposes they are calculated to fulfil, The fruit of 
some is edible, of others abounding in oil, the sap of a few 
forms a pleasant beverage, and may by evaporation yield sugar 
or be fermented into a spirit. The stems of some species are 
gorged with farinaceous matter, which may be separated as a 
starch-like powder or granulated into sago. The broad leaves, 
from their great size and hard surface, are useful for thatching 
the cottages of the poor, or for making umbrellas for the rich. 
The narrow-leaved kinds are plaited into mats and baskets, or 
smoothed so as to be fit for writing on; while the leaves of 
several, when in a young and tender state, are eaten, both raw 
and in a cooked state, and are hence called Cabbage Palms. 
Some abound in strong unyielding fibre, while others form 
wood which is applicable to all the purposes of timber. Hence, 
several are valuable articles of culture in the countries where 
they are indigenous, or where the soil and climate are suitable 
for: their growth—as, for instance, the Date Palm in Arabia 
and Africa, the Oil Palm in the West of Africa, the Cocoa-nut 
in India and its Islands, together with the Betle-nut, Palmyra, 
and Talipat Palms ; while the Sago, the Ejoo, and the Betle-nut 
Palms flourish in the moist warm climates of the Malayan 
Peninsula and of the Indian Archipelago. 
The Palms abound chiefly in the tropical parts of South 
America, as well as of the Old World; but a few species ex- 
tend to rather high latitudes, as an Areca to lat. 35° S. in New 
Zealand, and a Sabal (Chamzrops, Auct.) to lat. 40° N. in 
North America ; while the Dwarf Palm, a native of the North of 
Africa, is now at home in the South of Europe. There even the 
Date Palm is grown in a few sheltered situations ; though it is 
in the hot and dry soil of Arabia and Africa that it attains the 
greatest perfection, and furnishes a principal part of the diet of 
its inhabitants, as well as an article of commerce. Phenix 
sylvestris, a variety or species of the same genus, is common 
in most parts of India. A Chamerops is found in Nepal, 
