cocos. 161 



The name signifies monkey, from tlie nuts resembling 

 the face and head of that animal, and with the exception 

 of 0. nucifera, all are natives of America. Their flowers 

 are unisexual, but both sexes are produced upon the 

 same spike, and both have a three-parted calyx and 

 corolla. 



G. butyracea. — This is an elegant-growiug species. The 

 leaves are pinnate, erect in a young state, ultimately 

 spreading, from four to six feet long or more ; pinnss from 

 ten to twenty inches in length, and about one in breadth, 

 produced in a peculiar manner, several pimise originating 

 from nearly the same spot on the rachis, and very dark 

 rich green on both surfaces. The whole plant is destitute' 

 of spines. It forms a most attractive plant in a well- 

 sheltered spot in the sub-tropical garden. Native of 

 New Grenada. 



G. elegantissimus, — The present species resembles 0. Wed- 

 deliana in general appearance, but is more robust in its 

 habit of growth. The stem is rather stouter, and the 

 leaves are longer, beautifally arched, and the bases of the 

 petioles are enclosed in a network of brown fibres ; the 

 pinnsB are broader, clustered together, and bright shining 

 green in colour. A superb plant to decorate a drawing 

 room or dinner table. Native of Brazil. 



G. nucifera. — ^A cosmopolitan plant, being . found in 

 nearly every country withia the tropics, where it not 

 only grows wild, but is largely cultivated, and although 

 frequently to be met with inland, it evidently prefers to 

 grow in the vicinity of the sea. This species forms a stem 

 some forty or fifty feet in height, but a dwarf form, which 

 produces a smaller fruit, seldom exceeding six or- eight 

 feet in height of stem, is found in the Island of Ceylon ; 

 the latter has produced its fruit in this country. The 



