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Yll— Contribution to a Natural and Economical 
History of the Coco-Nut Tree. 
By Mr Henry Marshall, 
Surgeon to the Forces, and Author of Notes on the Medical Topography 
and Diseases of the Interior of Ceylon. 
(Read November 189.S.) 
The Coco-nut tree (fiocos nuciferd) belongs to the class 
Monoecia, order Hexandria, of the Linnean classification of 
plants. 
Stem erect, without branches, from 60 to 90 feet in 
height, and from one to two feet in thickness. It is marked 
with parallel rings from the cicatrices of the fallen leaves, 
about two of which separate annually. By these cicatrices 
or marks the age of a tree is ascertained. 
The stem is crow^ned with a bunch of about twelve or 
fifteen fronds (palm-leaves), each twelve or fourteen feet 
long, and composed of a double row of opposite sword- 
shaped leaflets, in length from three to four feet ; upper 
leaves are erect, middle horizontal, lower ones- rather 
drooping. A single leaf closely resembles a greatly magni- 
fied ostrich-feather. 
