PLANTS OF DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA 
23 
or three times this specimen was nearly 
killed by frosts, but now it seems to be 
well established and is growing with the 
greatest vigor. The species of this genus 
form branching trees, and the outer rind 
around the seed is sweet and tastes like 
gingerbread, hence the name “Ginger¬ 
bread Palm.” 
Inodes. The species of this group 
were previously referred to Sabal, but 
O. F. Cook has shown that they are 
not true Sabals. One obvious distinction 
is that in Sabal the leaves are nearly or 
quite flat, while in Inodes the midrib is 
curved backward. It is as satisfactory a 
group of palms for this region as the 
Phoenix and that is saying all that can 
be said. I. ghiesbreghtii is one of the 
finest, with large leaves of unusually 
heavy texture. I. mauritiasformis of the 
West Indies and northern South America 
is said to have leaves 12 feet across. All 
are well worthy of cultivation, as they 
flourish on almost all our soils even with¬ 
out fertilizer. 
Latania. A genus of a few species 
from Mauritius and vicinity, containing 
some of the most noble palms on earth. 
They have large trunks and immense 
leaves supported by massive petioles, the 
whole often glaucous and highly colored. 
L. glaucophylla is the finest species, and 
magnificent specimens of it are growing 
in Miami and at Cape Florida. L. com- 
mersonii is also a grand species and is 
growing at Cape Florida. The species 
are dioecious. 
Licuala. A genus of East Indian 
palms, several of which I have tried to 
cultivate with indifferent success. They 
grow for a while and then get sick and 
almost stand still. 
Livistona. Another genus of East 
Indian palms, but one which does much 
better here than Iffcuala. L. chinensis 
is usually sold as Latania borbonica, 
which is quite a different thing. It is a 
slow-growing species with very glossy 
leaves, but after it reaches considerable 
size its growth is more rapid. It is rather 
hardy and attains considerable size and 
is a most excellent and useful palm. L- 
subglobosa is a rapid grower. L. hoogen- 
dorpii is doing well. L. australis is a 
slow grower, but quite, hardy, and is a 
picturesque tree. L. rotuqdifolia is beau¬ 
tiful, but Seems a little delicate. 
Neowashingtonia. I have three species 
of this Mexican genus. N. robusta, a 
magnificent, strong-growing palm with 
large glossy leaves which have stout 
prickles on the edges of their petioles. 
It is rapidly becoming a favorite here for 
street planting. N. filifera has dull col¬ 
ored leaves and is greatly inferior in 
vigor and beauty to the robusta. N. 
sonorse, of which I have young speci¬ 
mens, is said to be more delicate than 
the others. 
Pritchardia. A noble genus of palms 
from the South Pacific containing a few 
species fully as handsome as the Lata- 
nias. They have immense plaited leaves 
borne on heavy petioles. P. pacifica has 
the petioles covered with a creamy or 
whitish fluffy scurf. P. thurstoni and 
an unnamed species which I have are 
very fine. Unfortunately they are all 
exceedingly tender and even large plants 
are injured by sharp frosts. 
Rhapis humilis and flabelliformis are 
clustered reed palms from China, and 
are exquisitely beautiful. The former 
does better for me than the latter. 
Thrinax. There is no group of palms 
more completely adapted to South Flor¬ 
ida than the species of this and allied 
genera. No less than six species of 
Thrinax and Coccothrinax grow wild in 
Dade County. T. barbadensis is an ele¬ 
gant palm which is deeper colored in 
shade than in sunshine, though it does 
well in both situations. T. altissima is 
altogether one of the most beautiful 
palms I have ever seen. Its large, glossy, 
airy leaves are almost flat and their 
lower edges lap over at the petiole. It 
should be planted where it is sheltered 
from wind. All the species are tender 
when young. 
Thrincoma alta, a new palm from 
Porto Rico, does well, and promises to 
be a beautiful little tree. All the species 
of this group do well in hammock or 
pine land and need no fertilizer. 
Trachycarpus excelsus totally fails 
in this locality. I have planted it repeat¬ 
edly in different soils and situations, but 
