ATTALE'A, a genus of Palms, found chiefly in the tropical parts of America, where it occupies the richest soil and the hottest forests, rarely ascending the aides of mountains, or spreading from the woods into the open country. It extends, according to Von Martins, as far south as the tropic of Capricorn. It belongs to the same division of the natural order Palmacem as the cocoa-nut, from which as well as from all its immediate allies, except Areng [AREND), it is distinguished by its nut containing three cells and three seeds. It is described by on 31artius as consisting of lofty or middle-sized or even occasionally stemlesa species, with a thickish trunk, the wood of which is soft and of a reddish-brown colour ; it is irregularly marked externally with scars, and is terminated by large pinnated leaves, the stalks of which are broad, and the segments smoothisb, rather thick, plaited, and neat looking. The bunches of fruit are simply branched, but are often of a vast size, and hang down from the bosoms of the leaves, covered with brownish nuts, the seeds of which are eatable. Sevenil species are known, of which the most remarkable are the two following :- Atta/ca funifcra, called by the natives Piacalin, is found in the native forests of the maritime provinces of Brazil, where it is one of the most valuable gifts which the bountiful hand of nature has conferred on man. The best cordage In South America for naval purposes is
manufactured from the fibres of the leaf-stalk/1 and other pants; such ropes are of great strength, and are extremely durable in salt water : no other cables are employed in a great part of the Brazilian navy. This species does not grow more than from 20 to 30 feet high ; its nuts, which are about as large as an ostrich's egg, have a hard shell like that of the cocoa-nut.
A ttalea compta, another apecies, is equally useful, but for different purposes. This plant, the l'indova of the old writers on Brazil, and the Indajh of the modern Portuguese, forma delightful groves in the interior of the country, growing from 20 to 50 feet clear of its branch like leaves; the latter are from 15 to 20 feet long, and about 3 feet wide. The fruit is tho size of a goose's egg, and contains an eatable kernel, Attalea epeciosa is the plant which, in the provinces of Maranhao and Pam, furnishes the nuts which the Brazilians burn for the purpose of smoking the juice of Siphonia elaatica, or Indian Rubber, until it becomes black.