The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Carnauba
CARNAUBA, kär-nä-oo'bạ, the Brazilian
name of the palm, Copernica cerifera, which
has its leaves coated with waxy scales (whence
the name wax-palm), yielding a useful wax
by boiling. It withstands drought excellently.
A slight saline composition in the soil
produces the best trees. The fruit and pith are
eaten, the leaves, are variously employed and
the wood is used in building.