2 5 7 
pressed from the seeds of several species, the most important and 
best known are Coco-nut oil, Palm-oil, (Elseis), Date-oil, ( Phoenix ) ; 
Cohune-nut, ( Attalea }, the residuum being used as a meal for fodder 
and also as manure. 
Of the woody or bony seeds. Coco-nuts and the double Coco- 
nuts, Coco-de-Mer are used as utensils and ornaments, and smaller 
seeds notably Ivory-nut Phytelephas , and Coquiila-nut Attalea , and 
Acrocomia are used as buttons, necklaces, tops, and other ornaments 
and articles. 
Dragon’ s blood used as a coloring matter and also in making 
incense, is obtained from the scales ol the fruit of several species 
of Dxmonorops (Rotan Jerenang). 
Coir or Coco-nut fibre is obtained from the fibrous husk of the 
coco-nut, not from the leaf-sheath as with other palm fibres. Ihe 
seed of the Betel-nut is well known throughout the East being 
universally chewed by natives, and is also exported for use as a 
dentifrice and for medicine. 
The spathe or floral envelope of some species is. sometimes used 
as a wrapper, and lastly the pliable fibrous spadices of the inflores- 
cence, after the fruit has fallen, are tied into bundles and uscld as 
brooms. 
Bud .— From the base of crown, or the leaf axis the growing 
point or bud of some species is highly prized as a vegetable or 
condiment and is termed palm cabbage. The cabbage of coconut 
is excellent as is also that of mountain cabbage, Euterpe oleroeea , 
Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal Palmetto, and also Oreodoxa, and in a 
lesser degree several other species. 
Leaves . — Palm leaves have many uses and throughout the tro^ 
pics are everywhere valued for thatch. In the Malay Peninsula 
the best thatch or attaps are Rumbia Sagus leevh (which when well 
made and carefully fixed) will last 5 years, Nipah, Coconut, Ber- 
tam, ( Eugeissoma tristis), and Palas, (Licuala). Fans and umbrellas 
are among the uses of palm leaves as the names so often imply in 
many countries, and locally Daun payong, umbrella leaf, ( Teys- 
rnannid ) . Other uses of leaves are baskets, sleeping mats, brushes, 
ornaments, and straw for plaiting and used for baskets and hats. 
From the leaves of Copernicia and Ceroxylon a waxy deposit is 
obtained and used for moulding and also made into candles. 
In some species the midrib of the leaflet is useful as is instanced 
in the coconut which furnishes a common broom of the Straits. 
The petiole or midrib of the leaf has many uses such as arrows, 
spears, fishing rods, walking sticks, sandals and fancy articles, and 
the leaf sheath, the lower sheathing extremity which surrounds and 
fixes a leaf on its stern, is in many species especially tough and 
largely used in the Colonial bazaars as a wrapper instead of paper 
or handbaskets, and by natives for carrying food and even liquids, 
and for baskets and other utensils. In Malaya the best are Coco- 
nut, and Betel-nut. From other species, hats, brooms, cordage 
and various articles are obtained. 
