Florida Swamps and Forests 
ment there is only the terminal bud to con- 
sider. The young palm of this species emerges 
from the ground in full strength, one cluster 
of leaves arched every way, making a sphere 
about ten or twelve feet in diameter. The out- 
side lower leaves gradually become yellow, 
wither, and break off, the petiole snapping 
squarely across, a few inches from the stem. 
New leaves develop with wonderful rapidity. 
They stand erect at first, but gradually arch 
outward as they expand their blades and 
lengthen their petioles. 
New leaves arise constantly from the center 
of the grand bud, while old ones break away 
from the outside. The splendid crowns are. 
thus kept about the same size, perhaps a little 
larger than in youth while they are yet on the 
ground. As the development of the central 
axis goes on, the crown is gradually raised on a 
stem of about six to twelve inches in diameter. 
This stem is of equal thickness at the top and 
at the bottom and when young is roughened 
with the broken petioles. But these petiole- 
{ 117 J 
