Palms, 
183 
APPENDIX. 
PALMS, 
The natural order of Palms exhibits such striking 
peculiarities in the structure and habits of the plants 
which it comprehends, as to be properly enough re® 
served for an appendix to the system, as was originally 
done by Linnaeus, in consequence of the limited know- 
ledge which he possessed of these remarkable vegetable 
productions. From the observations of succeeding bo- 
tanists, it appears that Palms have for the most part 
six stamens ; more rarely three or nine, with three or 
six petals, and one or three styles. The stamens and 
pistils are sometimes in the same flower ; sometimes in 
separate flowers on the same plant ; and sometimes on 
different plants, thus forming monoecious or dioecious 
plants. The fruit of the Palms is generally a drupe. 
Having some affinity to the liliaceous tribe, which were 
called by Linnaeus the nobles, the Palms, from their 
lofty stature and elegant form, have received the dig- 
nified appellation of the princes of the vegetable king- 
dom. 
The genera of Palms, which do not exceed ten or 
twelve, have been divided into three sections, the cha- 
racters of which are taken from the form of the leaves. 
In the first they are fan- shaped j in the second pinnat- 
ed, or wing-shaped ; and in the third doubly pinnated. 
