THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
107 
term palm-like is a common expression needing no explan- 
ation. Though belonging to the Monocotyledons it may 
not be amiss to again call attention to the fact that these 
trees have no bark, and though often reaching a height oi 
seventy-five feet or more, the stems do not increase in 
thickness by annual layers of wood. For some time after 
a young plant appears from the seed the stem is quite 
short but grows steadily in circumference. When it has 
reached a proper size the bud begins to carry the stem up- 
ward and as the species seldom put out branches, a tall 
slender stem of uniform diameter is the result. The bud 
continues to give off the great palmate or pinnate leaves 
which form a green rosette at the summit. There, seems 
to be no definite time for shedding the leaves, but each one 
as death overtakes it droops downward on itspetiole and 
ultimately becomes loosened and falls to the ground. The 
stems of many species are shaggy with the remains of the 
petioles and often very thorny as well, the thorns being 
produced from the petioles or from the trunk itself. 
The flowers are usually quite small, but are rather 
better developed than those of preceding orders, there be- 
ing usually a six-parted perianth easily distinguishable 
into three sepals and a like number of petals, six stamens 
and three carpels or a three-parted pistil. The perianth, 
however, is quite inconspicuous, dull in color, leathery or 
fleshy in texture and not much like petals and sepals in 
appearance. The flowers are borne in a simple or com- 
pound much branched spike which springs from the axil 
of an enormous spathe. The flowers are rarely perfect, 
the stamens and pistils occurring in separate flowers 
though usually in the same inflorescence. The flowers are 
mostly wind pollinated though a few are said to produce 
a perfume and are therefore likely to attract insects. In 
the species with perfect flowers self-pollination is prevented 
by the stigmas ripening before the stamens. 
The fruit is a berry, drupe or nut often of much com- 
mercial importance. Familiar examples are the cocoanut 
and date. The date is the fruit of the date-palm (Phoenix 
