Palmae. 51 
tape-worm. It is highly poisonous, like nicotine, and a half grain is 
sufficient to kill a rabbit in a few moments. 
Elaeis g-uineensis Jacq. 
Oil Palm. 
Plate XXII. 
The genus Elaeis consists of about six or seven species which are 
natives of tropical America and Africa. The name Elaeis is taken 
from the Greek meaning "Olive." 
The true Oil Palm grows erect, is twelve to thirty feet in height 
and bears at the apex of the trunk numerous pinnate leaves ten to 
fifteen feet in length; the leaf-stalks are broad, and serrated. The 
leaflets are numerous, linear lanceolate, pointed, nearly three feet 
long and one to two inches wide ; the male inflorescence is dense, and 
consists of numerous, cylindrical spikes less than half an inch in 
diameter. The female inflorescence is also dense and branched, and 
the fruits are borne in large dense masses. 
The Oil Palm is a native of tropical Africa but is now cultivated 
in many tropical countries. The drupes or fruits of the Oil Palm, 
which are one-seeded, have an oily husk of a bright vermilion or 
more or less yellow color. The fruit of this species yields an oil, 
which is of great economic importance in some regions. 
According to Dr. Vogel* the Africans prepare a palm soup from 
this species, a dish which, when made of boiled palm-nuts only, is 
of a delightful flavor. The natives pick the nuts off young trees 
which have not yet lost any of their leaves, and consider them 
superior to the fruit of older plants; they also cut down the trunks 
to collect palm wine. Two products are exported, the oil derived 
from the reddish exterior of the pulp of the fruit and the kernel 
which is used in Europe for the extraction under pressure of another 
oil, similar to that of the coconut and used for like purposes. 
In Honolulu this palm is not very plentiful and its cultivation 
for ornamental purposes has been neglected on account of the clumsy 
appearance produced by its short, thick trunk. An avenue of these 
palms leads from the main entrance of the Capitol grounds to the 
Capitol building, but they are rarely in fruit now. Single specimens 
may be seen here and there about Honolulu. In the Pleasanton 
Hotel grounds, fairly mature specimens line the driveway from the 
College Street corner, bearing profusely. 
* Hnker's Xiger Flora. 
