138 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



mentioned habitats. They abound in the Mauritius, and 

 attain the height of 20 — 30 feet, and are known by the name 

 *' bacona." Their stout aerial roots give to their palm-like 

 stems the appearance of being supported on props, and at a 

 distance they look like a candelabrum. This last remark 

 applies more particularly to P. candelabrum^ a native of 

 west tropical Africa. 



Their leaves are 4 — 6 or more feet in length, and are used 

 for making mats, baskets, and the like. 



The thick aerial roots consist of tough, spongy fibre, this 

 is beaten out and is used as brushes. , It is also used as a 

 substitute for cork. The head of fruit is sometimes as large 

 as a man's head, but contains very little pulpy or eatable 

 matter. The seeds are embedded in a hard woody substance, 

 and are difficult to extract. The screw-pine is common in 

 the hot-houses of this country. 



Freycinetia Banksii, a native of New Zealand, is a sarmen- 

 tose epiphyte, having stiff, narrow, spiny leaves about 2 feet 

 long, produced in fascicles, and presenting the appearance of 

 a broad-leaved grass, growing in tufts on trees. 



Cyclanthus funifera is a similar species, native of tropical 

 America. The older parts of its stems resemble ropes. 



Carludovica palmata. A native of Panama, Ecuador, 

 and other parts of Central America. It is a stemless species, 

 with incised, fan-shaped leaves, on petioles or footstalks 

 8 — 10 feet long. The celebrated Panama hats and cigar 

 cases are made of the leaves, and form a considerable article 

 of trade in hot climates. 



The Palm Family. 



(Palmace^.) 



Palmids, or ampelids, with hard stems, the first vary 

 from a few to 100 or even more feet in height ; while the 

 latter trail or climb to a great height, generally by the 

 aid of hooked spines. Leaves simple, in the form of and 

 plaited like a fan, or pinnate, rarely simple and plane. 



