ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



825 



Cocos. — This genus is remarkable and valuable on account 

 of economic properties and decorative qualities, C. nucifera 

 bearing the well-known cocoanut as well as furnishing some 

 other valuable commercial products. The Cocoses are all 

 extremely elegant in habit, and are mostly stove plants, requiring 

 a certain amount of shade. They thrive very well in a compost 

 of equal parts loam, peat, and sand, with a liberal supply of 

 water during the growing period. Propagation is effected by 

 seeds, which require a strong bottom-heat to germinate. Cocoses 

 sometimes reach majestic proportions, and are quite free from 



Fig. 554. — Cocos australis. 



spines, their stems being smooth and ringed, and their leaves 

 pinnatisect with linear segments. 



C. australis is a distinct species, rather low-growing but very 

 ornamental (Fig. 554). The stems in old plants are columnar 

 and erect, reaching 20ft. to 30ft. in height ; the leaves are 

 pinnate, with a great number of linear glaucous pinnae. 

 C. campestris (Syagrus campestris) is a very valuable decorative 

 species, distinct on account of its glaucous tint and elegant 

 habit. It produces a stem with a stout base and thick, broad, 

 and sheathing petioles, which have their edges covered with 

 some brownish fibres, and is one of the rare armed species 



