TIIE TALMYRA PALM. 
,05 W 
about four feet in length, and are attached by spiny-edged stalks of about equal length ; the leaves are 
plaited like a fan, and divided into from seventy to eighty rays. The trunk has a very singular 
cheeked appearance, closely resembling the back-bone of a large fish, caused by the stalks of the old 
leaves adhering to it after the leaves themselves have decayed. As iu all Palms, the flowers are 
small and numerous, and issue from spathes which arc seated in the axils of the mature leaves ; these 
flowers are dioe- 
cious, and the fe- 
males arc succeed- 
ed by a three-seed- 
ed three-cornered 
drupe, about as 
large as a child's 
head, consisting of 
a thick fibrous suc- 
culent brownish 
rind, and contain- 
ing three seeds of 
the size of a goose- 
egg. The substance 
of the young seeds 
is cool, sweet, and 
refreshing, but be- 
comes hard and un- 
eatable when ripe. 
The fruit is soft, 
emits a fragrant 
smell, and its pulpy 
matter is made into 
cakes, and dried in 
the sun. 
The Palmyra is 
moreover one of the 
principal sources of 
palm wine, which 
is the sap drawn 
from the more suc- 
culent parts. The 
Cocoa-nut tree ( Co- 
rns nucifera) and 
the Gomuto (Sa- 
guerua saccJiarifer) 
also yield this sac- 
charine sap abun- 
dantly. It is oli- 
obtained by crush- 
ing the young in- 
florescence, cutting 
off the upper part. 
and attaching a vessel to the lower cut end. The vessel gradually tills, and is removed every morning, 
a fresh slice being removed daily from the cut end. until the whole is sliced away. The fresh sap, 
taree or toddy, is very pleasant and refreshing ; but if fermented, it becomes one of the most intoxi- 
cating liquors of tropical countries. The sap also yields, on evaporation, a coarse sugar, called jaggt ■>■;/: 
and. remarks Van Rhecde, it would be happy if it were always applied to so innocent a purpose. 
The outer portions of the old stems of the Borassusform averj hard la-own timber, which takes a 
fine polish, and is much used. The younger parts are useless as timber. The lcuvi s are employed a^ 
thatch, as umbrellas, as fans, and also for writing on, the instrument used for this purpose bi 
piece of sharp-pointed metal, called a stylus. This palm is a tropical plant, requiring for its cultiva- 
tion a very high temperature, and good loamy soil. 
THE PAI.MYHA l-VIM. 
I 
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