ON PALMSj CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



815 



England for brooms ; the leaves are of a beautiful uniform 

 dark green colour. 



Bactris is another genus not very well known in cultivation. 

 It is well represented by the number of its species, which are 

 very decorative. They have slender stems armed with enormous 

 spines. The leaves are pinnatisect, and the segments mostly 

 linear and entire. The stems of some kinds in the young state 

 are used for making walking-sticks. Some of the species are 

 easily grown in a rich compost, but others present certain 

 cultural difficulties. Propagation is effected by suckers, when they 

 can be obtained. Bactrises in general are only decorative in their 

 young state. B. baculifera has leaves varying from 2ft. to 6ft. 

 in length, pinnate and bifid at the apex. The pinnae are dark 

 green on the upper surface and a paler shade below. The petioles 

 are sheathing and armed with dark spines, often exceeding lin. 

 in length. B. paUidispina {B. flavispina) is very elegant in 

 its early state, with its pinnate leaves, bifid at the apex. The 

 pinnae, which attain i2in., are clustered, and of a fine deep 

 green colour. The petioles are sheathing at the base, and 

 densely clothed with yellowish spines. 



Bacularia. — A genus represented by only a couple of stove 

 species, which are classified amongst the smallest Palms. Their 

 stems are slender, very seldom exceeding the thickness of a 

 man's thumb. They require exactly similar treatment to Arecas. 

 B. monostachya {Areca monostachyd) is an elegant Palm, extremely 

 valuable on account of its small size and decorative properties. 

 It produces slender stems with sheathing petioles. The leaves, 

 which often reach i2in. long, are pinnate and pendent, bifid at 

 their apex. The pinnae vary in length and shape, and are of a 

 dark green colour. 



BoRASSUs. — A very small but charming genus of stove-plants, 

 represented by two species ; these may easily be recognised by 

 their peculiar unisexual flowers, which are produced by distinct 

 plants. The males are found on dense-branching catkins, and the 

 females on simple ones. The fruit is three-seeded. The leaves 

 are fan-shaped, and the petioles are spiny, while the stem is 

 completely unarmed. Borassus grow very freely in a substantial 

 compost, and are propagated by seeds, for the germination of which 

 a great amount of bottom-heat is required. B. cethiopiaim is a very 

 ornamental species, rather rare in cultivation, and is remarkable 

 for a kind of swelling in its stem, mostly near the middle ; the 

 leaves are nearly circular and plaited, and are supported by 

 stout petioles varying from 6ft. to 7ft. in length ; this species 

 also possesses valuable economical properties, its stem furnishing 

 the "toddy," while mats and hats are made with the leaves. 

 B. flabellifer is an Asiatic species, possessing similar properties 

 to the preceding; the leaves are mostly circular and plaited 



