150 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Ivory Nut {Phytelephas macrocarpa). A native of New 

 Granada, Darien, and other parts of Central America. The 

 stem is generally 6 to 8 inches in diameter, suberect, decum- 

 bent, or even creeping on the ground. The leaves are pin- 

 nate, 18 — 20 feet long, having narrow segments like the 

 date palm. The flowers are dioecious, and are enclosed in a 

 spathe — the head of fruit when perfect being globular, about 

 the size of a man's head, and containing on an average about 

 40 nuts ; the whole head weighing upwards of 30 lbs. Each 

 nut is about the size of a green walnut, but not quite 

 round; when young they are coated with a thin pulpy 

 covering, of which a favourite beverage is made ; it is, how- 

 ever, their hardness and white colour which give them a 

 commercial value ; they are largely imported, and are being 

 made into buttons, umbrella handles, knobs for doors, work- 

 \ boxes, and toys. Seeds of this plant were received at Kew 

 j in 1845, and in 1864, a plant in the Palm House had leaves 

 16 feet in length. 



Macaw tree or Gru-gru (Acrocomia sclerocarpa). A 

 wing-leaved palm, having a trunk 30 feet high covered with 

 strong spines. It is a native of Jamaica, Brazil, and other 

 parts of tropical America. The nuts are globose, about the 

 same size as those of the " Ivory nut," and being very hard 

 take a fine polish. They also yield a fine scented oil used 

 in the manufacture of toilet soap. 



Rasp Palm {Iriartea exorrhiza). A native of Brazil and 

 Central America. Its growth is remarkable, the trunk being 

 elevated on stout aerial roots, which diverge from its base 

 in a slanting direction, giving to the tree the appearance of 

 being supported on props in such a manner and height that a 

 man can walk beneath them. These supporting roots are 

 hard and straight, 6 — 8 inches in circumference, and being 

 covered with rough tubercles are cut into convenient lengths 

 and used by the natives for grating *' cocoa nuts" and for 

 other purposes. 



Chair Cane {Calamus Rotang, C. rudentum, C. verus^ and 

 C. viminalis). These species are natives of India and the 



