146 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
are more easily grown and none are more tenacious of 
life than the palm, enduring alike dust and the many 
hard knocks that house plants are apt to receive, the cold 
from open windows and the unnatural heat from furnaces 
and from gas. Who will not say that a small palm of 
any species, with the top of the pot covered with Lycopo¬ 
dium denticulatum , is not a beautiful object to look upon 
in whatever situation it may be placed ? 
Our purpose at this time is, however, rather to direct 
attention to one or two graceful forms suited to such 
decorative purposes, than to enter into any exhaustive 
treatise in regard to them. 
Perhaps the most graceful and elegant genus that 
makes up this noble family of plants is the 
COCOS, 
many species of which grow to majestic proportions ; and 
one yields that well-known fruit the cocoa-nut of com¬ 
merce, which may be called one of the chief necessaries of 
life to the inhabitants of the tropics. Of this genus many 
very interesting species are to be met in our greenhouses, 
and are becoming very generally cultivated for ornamental 
and decorative purposes. Although for the living-room 
and window garden they are not so well adapted as some 
of the other genera, requiring, as they do, more heat 
and moisture to grow them well than some others of this 
class. There is one species, C. Weddelliana, that is en¬ 
titled to a place in any collection, for it is undoubtedly the 
most elegant palm in cultivation. The stem of this cocos 
is slender and clothed with a quantity ef black nettle fi¬ 
bres. The leaves are from one to four feet in length, or 
more, and beautifully arched, the leaflets which reach 
nearly to the base of the petioles, are long, narrow and 
pendent, dark-green on the upper side, glaucous under¬ 
neath, where they are furnished with a few black hairs. 
At the reasonable price for which these beautiful plants 
can now be obtained they should be found in every col¬ 
lection. 
THE LICUALA 
is a genus of elegant fan-leaved palms, belonging to the 
section Corypkecz. They are of somewhat slow growth, 
and seldom exceed twenty feet in height, exclusive of 
their crown of fronds. Licuala acutifida is the plant 
which, in Pulo-Penang, yields the much-esteemed walk¬ 
ing canes known as “ Penang Lawyers.” To grow these 
well they should have a liberal supply of heat and mois¬ 
ture, that furnished by the ordinary greenhouse not being 
sufficient for their perfect development. When in an 
active growing state this plant would not do for the 
window garden, but it is beautiful for lawn decoration in 
summer. It is usually increased from seeds, though 
sometimes a few side shoots are made from the base, 
which, if carefully taken off with roots and given a humid 
situation, will soon become fine specimens. 
The most beautiful of this genus is L. grandis (see 
illustration), of which the Gardener s Magazine says : 
“ Among palms of recent introduction the plant here 
figured stands alone for distinct expression and fine 
character. It is crowned with green leaves of a round¬ 
ish form delicately plaited and doubly cut round the 
edges, unlike any other palm, and as beautiful as it is 
unique. It was presented by Mr. Bull at the Brussels 
International Show, 1876, and from his hands passed to 
those of Mr. Wills, and thence to the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, where, when it flowered, it furnished a subject for 
B.M. 6,704. The genus Licuala prevails in the hotter 
parts of Eastern Asia; there are about thirty species 
known, and all of them are of smallish growth and elegant 
habit. The present species is a native of New Britain.” 
For the window garden there are no plants more beau¬ 
tiful and useful than the 
LATANIA, 
a handsome family of palms, with large fan-like leaves. 
They form splendid objects for the greenhouse, the living- 
room or sub-tropical garden in summer, and in a young 
state they form beautiful window plants, and are exceed¬ 
ingly useful for table decoration. There are several spe¬ 
cies included in this genus, all of which are easily grown 
into noble specimens. They require a strong, rich soil 
and liberal supplies of water. The pots should have good 
drainage, for although these plants enjoy an abundant 
supply of water, if it be allowed to stagnate in the soil the 
result will be fatal. The species are all natives of the 
African Islands, and are easily multiplied by seeds. 
THE CHAMjEDOREA 
is an exceedingly elegant genus of palms, and comprises 
many species, all slender, small-growing plants, which are 
admirably adapted for the decoration of apartments or 
the dinner-table; their hardiness of constitution and their 
rich shining green and elegant pinnate leaves render 
them charming objects in such situations. Among the 
most desirable species we notice C. glaucifolia , an elegant 
slender-growing species ; the leaves are long and pinnate ; 
leaflets narrow, long and slender, giving them the appear¬ 
ance of beautiful plumes ; the ground-color is dark green 
suffused with a glaucous hue. It is one of the most 
elegant for the window-garden or for table decoration. 
Native of Gautemala. C. graminifolia, is perhaps the 
most graceful species of the whole genus. Its stem is 
reed-like, leaves pinnate, from two to four feet in length, 
rich dark glaucous green, and beautifully arched ; leaflets 
upward of a foot in length and less than half an inch 
in breadth, the whole plant presenting the appearance of 
a plume of feathers. For a window plant or table deco¬ 
ration it is simply superb. Native of Costa Rica. C. mi- 
crophylla, is an elegant pigmy palm, in fact, one of the 
most beautiful of the whole genus. The stem is slen¬ 
der, dark green mottled with white dots, which give it a 
very peculiar appearance; and the branching flower- 
spikes are produced from below the leaves, where the 
stem is only some two inches in height. It carries a good 
crown of leaves, which are pinnate, from six to twelve 
inches long, and prettily arched ; leaflets ovate-caudate, 
about four inches long, an inch and a half wide and of a 
dark green color. This plant is truly a gem. 
PHCENIX. 
This genus of palms is very interesting and useful. P 
dactylifera , the well-known date -palm, is an erect hand¬ 
some plant, with long pinnate dark-green leaves. It is 
a superb plant for house culture when young, and for the 
sub-tropical garden when large. Although one of the 
most graceful of palms, the leaves are strong and flexible, 
and are but little injured by summer sun or wind. 
