Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cabbage-palm

CABBAGE-PALM, or Areca oleracea, L. an exotic plant, and, perhaps, the tallest, and most beautiful of vegetable productions, growing generally to the height of 170 or 200 feet. It is about seven feet in circumference near the ground; its branches, when full grown, are 20 feet in length, and have a great number of green pennated leaves, some of which are nearly three feet long, though only an inch and a half broad. The bark of the cabbage-palm, which tapers as it ascends, is distinguished for a peculiarity, that is not to be observed in any other tree. Till it reaches within twenty-five, or thirty feet of the extremity, it is of an ash-colour, but then immediately changes to a deep sea-green, and continues so to the top, near which, what is called the cabbage, is found enveloped in several thin, snow-white brittle flakes, of a taste similar to almonds, though somewhat sweeter. The cabbage-flower first appears like a small husky spatha, or sheath, and grows to the length of twenty inches, and to the breadth of about four inches. On being opened when young, a farinaceous yellow seed in embryo, resembling saw-dust, is found abundantly dispersed among its filaments, which are pickled and eaten with great relish. But, if it be permitted to arrive at maturity, it bursts, and the inclosed part produces several small oval nuts, resembling coffee berries.

The other parts of this plant are employed for various purposes, one of which deserves particularly to be noticed. On the inner side of the young foot-stalks are tender pellicles, of which, it is asserted, good paper might be manufactured. When the materials for making that article are so scarce, this substance deserves at least a fair trial, as it grows abundantly in the West Indies, and might be thence procured without much difficulty.