THE PALMS AND THE PALMETTOS - FAMILY PALMAE. The Palm family is a large group of tropical flowering plants, related to lilies on one side and grasses on the other. Like both of these, palms have but one cotyledon (seed leaf) in the embryo, and the stem is composed of a hardened outer layer within which is a mass of felt-like tissue in which longitudinal bundles of tough wood cells are irregularly distributed. Growth is internal, about these bundles as centres—not external, from a cambium. The parts of the flowers are regularly in threes, as in the lilies. The leaves are parallel veined, and they sheathe the stem, as in the grasses. They are fan shaped or feather shaped.
Palms are allied closely to the Arums, of which our jack-in the-pulpit is a familiar representative. Both families have moncecious flowers borne separately on different parts of a central spadix, surrounded by a conspicuous spathe, or sheath. Both families have berry-like fruit, sometimes hard ened outside.
Of palms there are now recognised over one hundred genera and about one thousand species. Botanically, the family is an old one, and on the decline. Fossils of Tertiary rocks show what it was in its prime. Three hundred and sixty distinct and impor tant uses are credited to palms by Evelyn. No human need but they supply in the primitive life of tropical people. In the com merce of the world they play no mean part. In the tropics, houses are built and furnished throughout from the native palms. Their leaves thatch the walls and roofs. They supply thread for weaving cloth, ropes, fish nets and lines, mats, fans, shields and hats. Spines furnish needles and barbed fishhooks. Sap gives wine, sugar and wax. Stems give fresh salads and sago for food, and wands for basketwork and furniture. Fruits of palms include cocoanuts, dates, and some of these yield chocolate and valuable oils.
The Palms and the Palmettos KeY TO GENERA A. Leaves long, feather shaped.
B. Fruit blue, below leaf cluster.
i. Genus ROYSTONEA, Cook BB. Fruit orange-scarlet, among leaves.
2. Genus PSEUDOPHCENIX, H. Wendl.
AA. Leaves round, fan shaped.
B. Leaf stalks spiny.
C. Leaves 5 to 6 feet long; petioles 4 to 6 feet long.
3. Genus WASHINGTONIA, H. Wendl. CC. Leaves a feet long; petioles I to 2 feet long.
4. Genus SERENOA, Hook.
BB. Leaf stalks not spiny. C. Fruit white.
CC. Fruit black.
D. Calyx and corolla united into a cup.
6. Genus COCCOTHRINAX, Sarg. DD. Calyx and corolla separate.
7. Genus SABAL, Adans.
I. Genus ROYSTONEA, Cook The Royal Palm (Roystonea regia, Cook) is one of the noblest of tropical trees, bearing its abundant crown of foliage, each leaf to to 12 feet long, and bending gradually outward and downward, with a grace peculiarly its own. The tall trunks, So to too feet in height, rise from abruptly flaring bases, and are enlarged in the middle. The rind is pale grey tinged with orange, except for the upper to feet or more, which is always green. The flowers of this tree are borne in branched spikes, about 2 feet long, and clustered at the base of the leafy crown. They bloom in January and February, and are succeeded by oblong berries, violet in colour and inch long.
The trees grow from Bay Biscayne around the southern point of Florida and on Long's Key, the vanguard of a host that inhabits Central America and the West Indies. They are also found on hummock lands up the Rogers River, east of Collier's Bay. A famous avenue tree in tropical cities, the trunks are used for piles of wharves, and walking sticks are made from the dense outer rind.
5. Genus THRINAX, SW.
2. Genus PSEUDOPHCENIX, H. Wendt.
The Sargent Palm (Pseudophcenix Sargenti, H. Wendt.) is found only on Key Largo and Elliott Key. A slender tree with white rind tapering from the middle to the leafy top and the flaring base, it is distinguished from the royal palm by the shorter leaves which stand erect, and the orange-coloured fruits that hang ripe among the leaves in May and June. The tree is found in a considerable grove on Key Largo. The flowers have not been described. Young trees are sometimes met with now in Florida gardens.