PALMiE. 621 



and sections are formed according as the leaves are pinnate or flabelli- 

 form, and the stems ,,are spiny or not. The following are the tribes : — 

 1. Arecinese, the Betel-nut tribe. 2. Lepidocaryin», the Sago tribe. 

 3. Borassinese, the Palmyra Pahn tribe. 4. Coryphinese, the Talipot 

 and Date tribe. 5. Cocoinese, the Coco-nut tribe. Examples — Areca, 

 Euterpe, Oaryota ; Lepidocaryum, Calamus, Sagus ; Borassus, Lodoi- 

 cea ; Oorypha, Livistona, Phcenix ; Cocos, Elais, Aorocomia ; Phyte- 

 lephas. 



The properties of the plants of this order are very various. In 

 the countries in which they grow they are used for supplying food, 

 and for forming habitations. The fruit of some is eatable, while that 

 of others is extremely hard. Many supply oil, wax, starchy matter, 

 and sugar, which is fermented so as to form an intoxicating beverage. 

 Their fibres are employed for ropes, and the reticulum surrounding 

 their leaves is sometimes manufactured into brushes. 



The Palm of the Bible, IDH, Tamar, seems to be Phcenix dactylifera, 

 Date, the drupaceous fruit of which supplies food to many of the in- 

 habitants of Arabia and Africa. Oocos nucifera (fig. 134, l,p. 68), the 

 Coco-nut Palm, is one of the most useful, supplying food, clothing, 

 materials for houses, and utensils of various kinds, ropes and oil. Her- 

 bert says, " The Indian nut alone is clothing, meat and trencher, drink 

 and cann, boat, cable, sail and needle, all in one." The sugar pro- 

 cured from it is called Jagery, and is fermented so as to form arrack. 

 The fibrous part of its fruit is manufactured into Coir-rope. The 

 wood of the Coco-nut Palm is known by the name of porcupine wood. 

 The terminal bud of the Coco-nut Palm, as well as that of Euterpe 

 montana, the Cabbage Palm, are used as culinary vegetables. The 

 Double Coco-nut of the Seychelles Islands is produced by Stevensonia 

 SecheUamm. Verschaffeltia splendida is another Palm of these islands. 

 The palm-oil imported from the west coast of Africa is obtained by 

 bruising the fruit of Elais guinemais and melanococca. The oil-bearing 

 palms are in the tribe Cocoinese. The Betel-nut is the produce of 

 Areca Catechu, and from it an extract is prepared of an astringent 

 nature resembling Catechu. This Areca is an elegant palm, 40-50 

 feet high, and 20 inches in circumference. It grows in the East 

 Indies and in Indo-China. The powdered nut is used for tapeworm. 

 The seeds or nuts form an ingredient in the Eastern masticatory called 

 Pan or Betel, and which seems to owe its stimulating properties to 

 the leaves of the Piper Betle. Sago,- and starchy matter allied 

 to it, are obtained from many Palms. It is contained inj^the cellular 

 tissue of the stem, and is separated by braising and elutriation. Fine 

 Sago is said to be procured from Metrossylon Iceve, a native of Borneo 

 and Sumatra, Scigus Bwmphii or farlnifera, a native of Malacca, and 

 Saguerus Bumphii or saccharifer, which is found in the eastern islands 

 of the Indian Ocean. After the starchy matter is washed out of the 



