362 
Candelabrum) from this peculiar tendency to branching. According to Fee 
(1, 223.), Nipa ought to be referred here, and not to Palms. 
Geography. Abundant in the Mascaren Islands, especially the Isle of 
France, where, under the name of Vaquois, they are found covering the sandy 
plains. They have peculiar means given them by nature to subsist in such 
situations in the shape of strong aerial roots, which are protnided from the 
stem, and descend towards the earth, bearing on their tips a loose cup-like coat- 
ing of ceUular integument, which preserves their tender newly-formed absor- 
bents from injury until they reach the soil, in which they quickly bury them- 
selves, thus adding at the same time to the number of mouths by which food 
can be extracted from the unwilhng earth, and acting as stays to prevent the 
stems from being blown about by the wind. They are common in the Indian 
Archipelago, and in most tropical islands of the Old World, but are rare in 
America. Humh. de Distr. Geogr. 198. 
Properties. The seeds of Pandanus are eatable. The flowers of Panda- 
nus odoratissimus are fragrant and eatable. The fruit of several is also an 
article of food. The leaves are used for thatching and cordage. The imma- 
ture fruit is reputed emmenagogue. Humh. 1. c. 
GENERA. 
Pandanus, L. fil. 
Arthrodactylis, Forst. 
Keura, Forsk. 
Freycinetia, Gaudich. 
Order CCLX. CYCLANTHACEyE. 
Cyclanthe^, Poiteau in Mem. Mus. 9. 34. (1822) ; Schott et Endlicher, Meletemata, p. 15. 
(1832) ; Martins Conspectus, No. 22. (1835). — Phytelephante^, Id. No. 21. 
(1835). 
Essential Character. — Flowers monoecious or polygamous, on the same densely 
covered spadix, spirally arranged ; the spires alternately male and female. Males : (first 
completed) consisting of distinct stamens each with two anthers ? (or with 4 -celled anthers,) 
opening longitudinally in 4 lines. Females : Ovaries surrounded with scales, often grown 
together, with parietal placentae. Fruit often clustered , berried, growing together along 
with the scales that surround them. Seeds . — Leaves plaited, petiolate. Spathes 
dilated, membranous and coloured. Inflorescence terminal. Schott. 
Affinities. Very near Pandanaceae, from which their leaves and spirally 
arranged flowers chiefly divide them. Phytelephas resembles Palms in its 
fronds, which equal those of the Cocoa Nut in dimensions, in its torulose scaly 
stem, and, finally, in the remarkable structure and weight of its fruit. Humh. 
de Distr. Geogr. 198. 
Geography. Natives of the tropics of the western hemisphere. 
Properties. Buttons are turned from the hard albumen of Phytelephas 
or the Tagua plant. Humh. 1. c. 
GENERA. 
Phytelephas, R. et P. Carludovica, R. et P. Cyclanthus, Poit. 
Elephantusia, W. Salmia, W. Cyclosanthes, Popp. 
Ludovia, Pers. 
