464 BOTANY. 



tioned whether any other order of plants (the Grasses possibly excepted) 

 approaches them in the importanceof the products they lurnish. Every 

 species appears to be useful, and the uses of some of the species may 

 he reckoned by hundreds. In some countries every want of man is 

 supplied by one or auother of the palms. 



I. Tribe Cocointm, — AtaXea funifira is a Brazilian species of 

 stout-growing trees, whose fibrous leaves are used in making ropes, 

 mats, and coarse brooms. The nuts, known as Coquilla nuts, are seven 

 to eight cm. (3 inches) long, very hard, and are used for making door- 

 handles, bell-pulls, etc. 



Gocos nucifera, the Cocoa-nut Palm, is a native of the coasts of tropi- 

 cal Africa, India, Malay, and islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

 It is now, however, cultivated throughout the tiopics. Tlie tree varies 

 In height from fifteen to thirty metres (oO to 100 feet), and bears long 

 pinnate leaves. The nuts, which are borne in dusters of seven to ten 

 or more, are the well-known cocoa-nuts of commerce. As a new cluster 

 is pushed out every monih, the annual yield of a, single tree may be 

 from 100 to 150 or more nuts, and this may continue for forty years. In 

 some parts of India and other countries, the white albumen of the nut 

 forms nearly the entire food of the natives, and the milk serves them 

 for drink. In this country great quantities are used as a delicacy and 

 for culinary purposes. 



In cocoa-nut countries the uses of the root, stem, leaves, and fruit are 

 said to be as numerous as the days in the year, sufiScing for all the wants 

 of the inhabitants. Tlie root is used as a masticatory ; the stem is used 

 for the most diverse purposes, while the hard case of the base is used 

 for making drums, and in the construction of huts, the tender termi- 

 nal bud is highly prized as an article of food. The juice of the 

 flower-stems is rich in sugar, and this, by fermentation, produces an ex- 

 cellent wine, and by distillation yields a spirit called airack. From the 

 sheaths and leaves the natives construct roofs, fences, babkets, buckets, 

 ropes, mats, brooms, and numerous other articles. The fibre from the 

 leaves and sheaths is imported into this country and made into " coir" 

 ropes, floor-matting, brushes, and brooms, and used also for stuffing 

 cushions. Even the hard shell is of use in the manufacture of c\x\ s 

 and ornaments. 



Elmis guineensis. of West Africa, produces annually large quantities 

 of pulpy fruits, each containing a hard nut. From these palm oil is 

 obtained, which is used in Europe and tlie United States for making 

 candles, for the manufacture of soap, and also to some extent for lubri- 

 cating purposes. 



II. Tribe CoryphinecB. — Gopernica cerifera, the Wax Palm of 

 Brazil, attains the height of twelve metres (40 feet), with a diameterof 

 stem of thirty cm. (1 foot). The hard wood takes a fine polish, and is 

 used for veneering. The young leaves are coated with a waxy sepre- 

 IJon which is V(sed in England fur ipaking caii^les, 



