divided like a fern. The flowers are scarlet and the pods 6 inches 

 long. This tree bears the name of Sir Charles Colville, Governor 

 of Mauritius, when Bojer discovered it in Madagascar. (Legu- 

 minosce.) 



40. Copernicia cerifera, Mart. — The Wax Palm of Brazil belongs to a 



genus of palms named after the celebrated astronomer Copernicus. 



The stem is 20 to 40 feet high, adorned with the bases of the 

 fallen leaf-stalks, arranged in beautiful spirals, and crowned by a 

 perfect ball of fan-shaped leaves. 



The leaves are coated with a glaucous bloom of wax, which is 

 obtained by shaking the young leaves. The wax falls off in the 

 form of a whitish scaly powder to the amount of about 50 grains 

 from each leaf. It is exported to be made into wax candles, which 

 retain the peculiar lemon- coloured tint of the natural product. 



This palm forms immense forests, and is of great use to the 

 Brazilians. The trunk is very durable, and is employed for the 

 framework of houses, for cattle enclosures, and for other purposes 

 where strength and lasting power are needed. A kind of meal is 

 prepared from the inside of the upper portion of the stem. 



The leaves are used for thatch, pack-saddles, etc., and the young 

 leaves are given to cattle as fodder in times of scarcity. 



The yellowish fruits are bitter to the taste, but are eaten, either 

 raw or boiled, by the Indians. (Palmce.) 



41. Couroi pita goaxexsis, AubL, the Cannon Ball Tree, so-called 



from the size and shape of the fruit. The pulp is of a pleasant 

 flavour, and the hard shell is used as drinking vessels. 



It is a native of tropical America, and is nearly related to 

 Lecythis. The flowers are large and whitish, forming clusters on 

 the trunk and branches. (Jf/ rtacea ) 



42. Cycas circixalis, Linn. — This singular locking plant is one of the 



so-called Sago Palms, but they are not Palms, and do not yield 

 time Sago. 



The stem is encased in a kind of armour, formed of the hard 

 persistent bases of the leaves. There are no flowers in the ordinary 

 sense of the word, but the seeds are borne on altered leaves which 

 alternate in rings round the stem with the ordinary foliage leaves. 

 These rings are clearly marked on this plant. 



An inferior kind of flour is made by the forest tribes of India 

 from the seeds by drying them in the sun, and then beating in a 

 mortar. A gummy substance which exudes from the stem is used 

 to jnomote suppuration. (Cycadacece.) 



43. Cycas revoluta, Thunb. — The Pine Palm of Japan grows slowly, 



and never reaches a greater height than 6 feet. The stem is rich 

 in starch, which can be made into a kind of Sago, highly esteemed 

 in Japan, and at one time it was contrary to the laws to take the 

 plant out of the country. (Cycadacca.) 



44. Dillexia ixdica, Linn, is a round-headed, handsome tree, 60 feet 



high, with hard rough leaves 8 to 10 inches long, and large showy 



