PALMACEiE. 



29 



Class II ,* ENDOGENS. 



Increase of new wood taking place for the most part in- 

 ternally. Leaves straight-veined and permanent. Organs 

 of fructification in threes. Embryo with one cotyledon or 

 seed-lobe. 



PALMACEJE. 



Spadix scaly, terminal, often branched, enclosed in a one or 

 many-valved spathe, which is often woody. Mowers small, sup- 

 ported by scaly bracts ; divisions of calyx three, colourless, fleshy 

 or leathery, not falling ; petals three, often larger. Stamens in- 

 serted into the base, various in number. Ovary free, usually 

 composed of three parts. Fruit a drupe, berry, or nut. Leaves ter- 

 minal, clustered, usually very large. Trunk arborescent, simple. — 

 Tropical trees generally, and almost every part of immense value, 



CARYOTA. 



Gen. Char. (Monoecia Polyandria.) Common spatha compound ; 

 barren flower — calyx three-leaved, petals three; fertile — calyx 

 three-leaved, corolla three-parted, style one; berry one-celled, two- 

 seeded. 



The name is supposed to be derived from the Greek for 

 head, as wine made from the sap soon affected the head of 

 those who drank of it. A few species of this elegant Palm 



* Fourth Class of Lindley. 



