3. Sagus seeds.—

The seeds of another palm appear within the last year to have found their way into commerce in considerable quantity from the Friendly Islands as a vegetable-ivory substitute. This is the Sagus amicarum, Wendl., the seeds of which have the shape and dimensions of a medium sized apple. The resemblance is still more complete if the core has been supposed to be scooped out by an opening at the bottom, the seeds of this Sagus having a considerable hollow cavity in the centre.

Amongst the collections of the Challenger expedition Mr. Moseley sent home seeds of another species of Sagus from San Christoval, one of the Admiralty Island group. This is probably a distinct species from S. amicarum, the surface of the seeds being marked by rounded ribs running longitudinally from the central depression on the upper surface, while the opening into the internal hollow cavity is almost closed up.

The Fiji Islands which intervene between the Solomon and Friendly groups contain yet a third species of Sagus, the S. vitiensis, Seem., the seeds of which are yet smaller than either of those mentioned above. Whether they have been tried as a vegetable-ivory substitute I am unable to say.