842 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



decorative purposes ; it may be described as a P. dactjlifera, 

 only of slenderer habit (Fig. 561). P. dactylifei-a (true Date 

 Palm) grows very freely under greenhouse treatment, and can be 

 used with success for indoor decoration when young; the leaves 

 are pinnate, long, and of a deep green ; the pinnse are linear- 

 lanceolate, and stand out nearly straight : it reaches in its native 

 country a height varying from looft. to 120ft. P. farinifera 

 is another compact species of elegant stature, with pinnate 

 leaves varying from 3ft. to 4ft. long, and ovate acuminate pinnae 

 6in. long, the lower ones being transformed into stout spines. 

 P. humilis is the smallest species of the genus, possessing bulbous 

 stems only ift. long ; the leaves vary from 2ft. to 3ft.5 with 

 conduplicate pinnules, the lower ones being often transformed 



cultivation ; the leaves are pinnate and spreading, with 

 narrow pinnae reaching about 6in in length, the lower ones 

 being transformed into sharp spines (Fig. 563). P. sylvestris 

 possesses a great similarity to P. dactylife7'a, producing greyish- 

 green leaves varying from 7ft. to 12ft. long, with a multitude of 

 alternate and opposite pinn^, which often reach iSin. in length; 

 it is one of the most robust Palms, and can be utilised for 

 sub-tropical gardening during the whole of the summer (Fig. 564). 



Phytelephas. — A genus of compact plants, very ornamental 

 in their young state, and thriving fairly well in a greenhouse 

 throughout the summer, but requiring stove heat during the 

 winter. Only two species seem to be cultivated at the present 

 time. P. macrocarpa is well known for its fruits, which furnish 

 a kind of ivory used for making numerous small ornaments. The 

 Phytelephas are unarmed, and comparatively robust. The leaves 



Fig. 563. — Phcenix rupicola. 



into short and sharp spines ; 

 it is very useful for decorative 

 purposes ; there are also half- 

 a-dozen varieties of P. Jmmilis^ 

 all closely allied to the typical 

 one. P. 7'ecli?iata (P. zanzi- 

 barejisis) is a large and free- 

 growing species of robust con- 

 stitution, which could be used 

 with success for sub-tropical 

 gardening ; when the plant 

 attains a certain number of 

 years it produces a stout 

 stem, bearing elegant pinnate 

 leaves ; the spreading pinnae 

 are of a triangular shape (Fig. 

 562). P. rupicola is a very 

 remarkable species and the 

 noblest of the genus, but 

 unfortunately still rare in 



