MONOCOTYLEDONOUS OR ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. 521 



sions 2-cleft at the apex and often with long thread-like 

 filaments interposed ; sjmdix long, branching, with sheath- 

 ing spathes at the joints; jflowers small, whitish, rigid; 

 clriipe oblong or globose ; sheaths of the leaves commonly 

 composed of dry interlaced fibers. 



S. Palmetto, R. and S. (Cahhage Palmetto.) Stem 

 erect, tall, simple, leafy at the summit; leaves large, cor- 

 date in outline, pinnatifid-fan-shaped, recurved at the sum- 

 mit, mostly shorter than the smooth concave petiole, the 

 very numerous divisions deeply cleft, and with thread-like 

 filaments at the sinuses ; spadix smooth and spreading, 

 commonly shorter than the leaves ; petals slightly united 

 at the base ; style thick ; d?'icpe globose. (Chamaerops Pal- 

 metto, Michx.) Sandy soil along the coast. June. Stem 

 20°-40° high; leaves 5°-8° long, their bases long-persistent; 

 drupe black, 4"-5" in diameter. 



CHAM^ROPS, L. 



Floivers polygamous, bracted; calyx 3-cleft; corolla 

 3-petaled ; stamens 6-9, with the filaments connate at the 

 base; antliers oblong; ovaries 3, more or less united; stig- 

 mas acute, stigmatic on the inner face ; drupes 1-3, one- 

 seeded; embryo dorsal, in horny somewhat ruminated 

 albumen. — Low palms, with fan-like, long-petioled leaves, 

 destitute of thread-like filaments; sheaths soon dry and 

 net-like; spadix dense-flowered, branching; spathe 2-4- 

 leaved ; flowers yellowish ; drupe globose or ovoid. 



C. Hystrix, Fraser. {Blue Palmetto.) Stem short, 

 proliferous ; leaves circular in outline, with numerous 2-4- 

 toothed divisions, on triangular rough-edged petioles; 

 sheaths persistent, composed of oblique fibers interwoven 

 with numerous erect strong spines; spad)'x small, short- 

 peduncled; spathes about 4, oblong, woolly, acutely 2-lip- 

 ped ; petals ovoid ; drupe ovoid. Low shady woods. June 

 and July. Stem 2°-3° long, erect or creeping; leaves 



