546 ORDER CXXXV. PALMACEiE. 



in a simple umbel. Leaves of the perianth ovate, acuminate, with 

 membranaceous margins. Capsule 3-angled, truncate, 3-valved, 3-seed- 

 ed. — 71. May — June. Abundant near Macon. 



Order CXXXV.— PALM A 'CE^E. (Palm Tribe.) 



Flowers perfect or polygamous. Perianth 6-parted, in 2 

 series, persistent. Stamens 6, opposite the segments of the 

 perianth, into the base of which they are inserted. Ovary 1 — 

 3-celled : when 3-celled it is deeply lobed, cells 1 -seeded. Fruit 

 baccate or drupaceous. 



Genus I. — SA'BAL. Adans. 6 — 3. 



Flowers perfect. Stamens 6. Styles 3. Spathes partial. 

 Filaments thickened at the base. Fruit dry, 1 -seeded. Seed 

 bony. 



1. S. pu'mila, (Walt.) Stem none. Leaves flabelliform, 1 — 3 feet 

 high. Stipes naked, compressed. Scape erect, terminated by a long 

 panicle. Flowers small, nearly sessile. Fruit nearly round, bluish 

 black. — White. If.. June — Aug. Along the coast of Car. and Geo. 

 4 — 6 feet. Dwarf Palmetto. S. Adansonii. 



2. S. min'ima, (Nutt.) Stern creeping ; frond palmate, plicate ; stipe 

 serrate. Berry oblong-ovoid. — Georgia and Florida, 



Genus II.— CHAM'^EROPS. 19—2. 

 (From cliamai, on the ground, and rhops, a twig.) 



Flowers polygamous. Sjiathe compressed ; spadix branch- 

 ing. Filaments partly united. Drupe 3-celled, only 1 usually 

 containing a seed. 



1. C. sereula'ta, (Mich.) Stern creeping. Leaves flabelliform, with 

 the stipes sharply serrate. Scape terminated by a panicle. Flowers 

 small. Fruit nearly black, 1-seeded. — White. July — Aug. Common 

 in sandy soils, along the Ocmulgee. Sabal semdala, Rom. 



2. C. hts'trix. (Fraser.) Stem creeping. Leaves flabelliform, with 

 the stipes intermingled with long thorns from the root. Flowers as in 

 the preceding species. — White. If. June — Aug. In clayey soils. 

 4 — 5 feet. Blue Palmetto. 



3. C. palmet'to, (Mich.) A tree. Leaves palmate, flabelliform, 5 — 6 

 feet in length, crowded at the summit of the tree. Flowers in naked 

 panicles. Fruit bluish-black. — White. ^ . June — July. On the sea- 

 coast of Car. and Geo. 40 — 50 ft. Palmetto. Sabal palmetto, Lord. 



The following remarks of Elliott on the C. Palmetto are peculiarly appropriate : 

 " This palm possesses a great, and, to this country, an increasing value. It is the only 

 tree produced in our parts which is not attacked by the Teredo Navalis; and as it is 

 incorruptible in salt-water, its value for submarine construction is almost incalculable. 

 Its leaves can be employed in the manufacture of hats, baskets, mats, and many other 

 purposes of domestic economy; and the Cabbage, composed of the unexpanded em- 

 bryo leaves, may be classed among the most delicious vegetables produced on out 

 tables. It is, however, a wasteful luxury, as the tree always perishes when deprived 

 of this part of its foliage." 



