A R A C E JE. 



615 



Fig. 274. 



of its great elasticity and strength. Fi- 

 nally, an excellent oil is obtained from 

 the kernels by expression." (Lindley,!^. 

 King. 136.) 



But most of the Palm oil of commerce 

 is the product of Elais guineensis and 

 E. melanococca, but is also yielded by 

 several other species of Palmacese. This 

 semi-concrete oil is principally imported 

 into this country from Africa, but is also 

 prepared in various parts of tropical 

 America, and in the South Sea Islands. 

 It is of about the consistence of soft 

 butter, of an orange-red colour, a plea- 

 sant odour, and a sweetish taste. It is 

 mainly employed in the manufacture 

 of soaps, but has been used in medi- 

 cine as the basis of several embrocations 

 and ointments. 



Some of the Palms furnish a kind of wax ; thus the Ceroxylon andicola, 

 or Wax Palm, has a coating of wax on its stem, which has exuded from the 

 spaces between the insertion of the leaves. This 

 substance, according to Vauquelin (Ann. Chim. 

 xxix. 330), is composed of two parts resin, and one 

 of wax. M. Bonastre is of opinion that it contains 

 a peculiar principle, which he calls Ceroxylin. A 

 curious product of one of these trees is the Vege- 

 table Ivory ; this is the fruit of the Phytelephas 

 macrocarpa. Ruiz and Pavon state that this fruit 

 at first contains a clear, insipid fluid, which is po- 

 table like that of the Cocoa-nut, but by degrees it 

 becomes milky, and at last acquires a solidity 

 almost equal to that of ivory. From these hard- 

 ened kernels various toys are made which closely 

 resemble ivory in texture and appearance. 



Several species of Calamus afford a red, resin- 

 ous substance, known as Dragon's-blood ; more 

 especially C. draco, a native of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago. There are several kinds of this Resin, 

 which will be more particularly noticed in another 

 place. 



Fig. 275. 



C. andicola. 



Group XLIII. — Arales. 



Order 105.— ARACEiE.— Schott. 



Flowers monoecious, naked, arranged upon the surface of a spadix, within a spathe. 

 Sterile flowers: stamens definite or indefinite, hypogynous, short; anthers 1 — 2, many- 

 celled, ovate, extrorse. Fertile at the lower part of the spadix. Ovary free, 1-celled, 

 seldom 3-, many-celled, many-ovuled ; ovules erect or parietal, sessile, or attached to long 

 cords, orthotropal, campylotropal, or occasionally anatropal ; stigma sessile. Fruit succu- 

 lent. Seeds pulpy ; embryo in the axis of fleshy or mealy albumen, straight, with a cleft 

 on one side for the plumule. 



