ON PALMS, CYCADS, AND BAMBOOS. 



difficulties. They only require a strong compost of two parts 

 strong loam and one part leaf-mould and sand; water must be 

 applied generously during the growing period. They are some- 

 times increased by means of division of suckers, or by seeds. 

 T. excelsus {T. Fortunei and ChamcErops excelsa) is a handsome 

 Palm for sub-tropical gardening, and may be utilised for various 

 decorative purposes, such as halls or window^s during the winter, 

 where no other Palms could exist. The stem often reaches 

 2oft. in height, and is somew^hat 

 stout at the base; the petioles are 

 partly enclosed at their base in a 

 fibrous matter, and support fan- 

 shaped leaves, deeply divided into 

 deep green segments (Fig. 569). 

 T. Martiana (Z! khasyanus and 

 Chamcerops Martianus) is another 

 valuable greenhouse species, also 

 useful in sub-tropical gardening ; 

 it has a slender stem, and petioles 

 2oin. to 3oin. long, provided with 

 small spines, and covered with a 

 kind of fugacious tomentum ; the 

 leaves are palmate, with bifid 

 ■segments. This variety often 

 reaches 24rt. to 26ft. high. 



Trithrinax. — This genus is also only represented by two or 

 three stove species, producing fan-like leaves deeply divided into 

 long segments, and petioles very well armed with spines, and 

 partly enclosed in rough fibres. Trithrinax are rather low-growing 

 Palms, and are very valuable amongst ornamental-leaved plants. 

 They require about the same treatment as Thrinax, and are 

 propagated by seeds. T. acanthocoma is a very prickly species, 

 producing a rather small stem covered with a persistent netted 

 sheath, and protected by numerous stout and reflexed spines ; 

 the leaves are large and flabelliform, being deeply divided into 

 numerous linear and bifid segments. T. brasiliensis is an 

 elegant dwarf-growing Palm, with a slender stem 6ft. to loft. 

 hiigh ; the petioles, 2ft. to 5ft. long, are quite smooth, terminated 

 -by a circle of short spines, and support some large flabelli- 

 form leaves, which are divided into narrow segments of a 

 shiny green, and glaucous when young. 



Veitchia. — A genus represented in cultivation by two or 

 three species which w^ere previously classified under Kentia. They 

 are rather rare, and seem to be better adapted for collections 

 than for ornamental purposes. Veitchias produce terminal and 

 equally pinnatisect leaves, with linear and acuminate pinnae, and 

 require exactly the same treatment as Kentias. V. Johannis 



3 I 2 



Fig. 569. — Trachycarpus 



