620 



PALM^. 



shaped, with, plicate vernation, parallel simple veins, and often spiny- 

 petioles. Flowers on a terminal, often branched spadix, enclosed in 

 a 1- or many-valved spatha. A single spadix of Alfonsia amygdalina 

 has been known to produce upwards of 200,000 flowers. Natives of 

 tropical region.? chiefly, and imparting to them much of their botanical 

 physiognomy. Most of them have unbranched stems, attaining some- 



Fig. 864, 



Fig. 865. 



Fig. 866. 



Fig, 86r. 



-times a height of 250 feet, and sending'out clusters of large leaves, from 

 the axil of which bunches of flowers proceed. Although the flowers 

 are small, still the inflorescence, taken collectively, has often a most 

 imposing aspect. Humboldt describes their efiect on the landscape 

 in glowing colours, and Martius has illustrated the order by splendid 

 •delineations. Linnaeus called them the Princes of the Vegetable 

 Kingdom. There are about 180 known genera and upwards of 500 

 species. Martius estimates the known species at 582, of which 91 

 have fan-shaped leaves. They have been divided by him into various 

 -tribes, depending chiefly on the nature of the ovary, ovules, and fruit ; 



Figs. 862-866. Organs of fructification of Ai-eoa Cateoliu, Betel-nut Palm, to Illustrate 

 the natural order PaJmae, Fig. 862. Unexpanded flower-bud. ce, Outer division of the 

 perianth, ci. Inner perianth. Fig. 863. Diagram of the flower, showing the two Tertlcils 

 of the perianth, the six stamens, and three ahortive carpels, a. The position of the axis of 

 inflorescence in reference to the flower. Fig. 864. A flower deprived of its perianth, in 

 which the stamens, e, are partly abortive, while the ovary, o, is developed, s, Stigma. 

 Fig, 865. Diagram of the last flower, showing the double perianth, the partially abortive 

 stamens, and the 3-celled ovary, a. Axis of inflorescence. Fig. 866, Fruit, /, surrounded 

 at its base by the persistent perianth, c. Fig. 867. Flower of Chamserops humilis, Euro- 

 pean Fan-Palm, seen from above. There are six divisions of the perianth, six stamens, and 

 the ovary. 



