546 



ORDER CXXXV. PALMACEJE. 



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

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

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



Order CXXXV.— PALMA'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. pumi'la, (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. 2T. . June — Aug. Along the coast of Car. and Geo. 

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



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

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



Genus II.— CHAM'^EROPS. 19—2. 

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



Flowers polygamous. Spatke compressed ; spadix branch- 

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

 containing a seed. 



1. 0. serkula'ta, (Mich.) Stem, 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 serrulata, Rom. 



2. C. hys'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. pai.mkt'to, (Mich.) A tree. Leaves palmate, flabelliform, 5 — G 

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

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

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



Tlie following remarks of Elliott on the 0. Palmetto mo peculiarly appropriate : 

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

 tree produced in our parts which i* nol attacked by the Teredo NavalU; and as it is 

 incorruptible In salt-water, iis value for submarine construction is almost Incalculable. 

 Its leaves ran be employed In the manufacture of hats, baskets, mats, and many oilier 



Eurposea of domeasc economy ; and tb imposed of the unexpended em- 



ryo leaves, may be classed among the most delicious vegetables produced on oar 



tables, ll is, however, a wasteful luxury, a> the tree always perishes when deprived 

 of this port of its foliage." 



