8t4 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



surface. The flowers, however, are unisexual, and are found 

 on simply branched spikes ; the males occupy the upper part 

 while the female flowers are found on the lower. Astrocaryums 

 require a strong compost and an abundant supply of water : 

 they are chiefly propagated by seeds and seldom by suckers. 

 A. acaule is a peculiar stemless species producing a great 

 number of leaves, varying from 3ft. to 8ft. long, which 

 are pinnate and spreading, with narrow pinnae disposed in 

 clusters and pendent ; the plant is very well protected by a 

 multitude of black spines. A. filare is a very distinct plant 

 with erect leaves, narrowly cuneate, and with two divergent 

 lobes ; the petioles are covered with white scurf on the upper 

 as well as the under portions. A. Malybo {A. argenteiim) is 

 known as one of the best of the Silver Palm section ; the leaves 

 are arching, rather wedge-shaped, distinctly plicate, bright green 

 on their upper surface, while the under part and all the stalks 

 are covered with a whitish scurf, which imparts the silvery 

 appearance. A. Mum Miiru is an attractive Palm, with a stem 

 rarely exceeding 15ft. in height, and armed with strong reflexed 

 black spines sometimes exceeding 6in. ; the leaves are pinnate, 

 and the leaflets lanceolate, of a dark green above and silvery- 

 white beneath. A. rostratum is an interesting species, rather 

 slow-growing, producing a slender stem densely armed with long 

 black spines; its irregular pinnate leaves vary in length from 3ft. 

 to 8ft., and the pinnse from i2in. to 2oin. ; the petioles, which 

 are also armed with numerous black spines, are broadly 

 sheathing at the base, of a deep green on the upper surface and 

 somewhat white beneath. 



Attalea. — A very decorative and distinct stove genus 

 belonging to the tropical American flora. The pinn^ are arranged 

 vertically instead of horizontally, and the leaves spring from 

 the base in an almost perpendicular direction. The plants are 

 quite unarmed. Attaleas thrive admirably in a mixture of equal 

 parts peat and loam, and require a good supply of w^ater. 

 This genus does not seem to be known as it ought to be, 

 considering its decorative value. A. amygdalifia (A. nucifera) is 

 one of the best species of the genus, and thrives very ^vell in 

 a greenhouse during the summer; it produces a slender stem, 

 with pinnate leaves varying from 2ft. to 6ft. in length. The 

 pinnae often attain i8in. in length, and are of a rich deep 

 green. A. Cohime^ like the preceding, ought to be more 

 frequently seen, for at ah stages it is a very handsome 

 plant; the leaves are erect, alternate and pinnate, and are 

 provided with a large number of beautiful dark green pinnae, 

 varying from i2in. to i8in. long. A. funifera (Piassaba 

 Palm) is very valuable on account of its economical and 

 decorative properties ; it produces a kind of fibre largely used 

 in America for rope-making, and is sometimes used in 



