at home and work -
|
Mountain Cabbage
Areca oleracea
The Edinburgh monthly review, 1821
Allusion is indeed made to one of them, when he says that "the tender shoots of this tree when boiled afford an excellent substitute for cabbage." This observation is erroneously applied to the cocoa-nut tree, but undoubtedly refers to the mountain cabbage tree, Areca oleracea, Lin. a native of the mountainous districts of Jamaica. This stately palm rises to the height of 100 and 150 feet. What is called the cabbage is obtained by removing the green bark immediately under the insertion of the leaves. It is in thin and snow-white flakes, and, when boiled, has been compared to the taste of an almond, but much sweeter. It is assuredly one of the most delicious dishes that can be presented at table. But one tree is scarcely sufficient for a single dish.
Allusion is indeed made to one of them, when he says that "the tender shoots of this tree when boiled afford an excellent substitute for cabbage." This observation is erroneously applied to the cocoa-nut tree, but undoubtedly refers to the mountain cabbage tree, Areca oleracea, Lin. a native of the mountainous districts of Jamaica. This stately palm rises to the height of 100 and 150 feet. What is called the cabbage is obtained by removing the green bark immediately under the insertion of the leaves. It is in thin and snow-white flakes, and, when boiled, has been compared to the taste of an almond, but much sweeter. It is assuredly one of the most delicious dishes that can be presented at table. But one tree is scarcely sufficient for a single dish.
The Annals of Jamaica, Vol 1
George Wilson Bridges, 1827
The Cabbage Tree (areca oleracea) grows in the mountainous districts to the height of one hundred and seventy feet, bearing a leafy heart on its summit, which, when boiled, nearly resembles the sea-kale; but to obtain this luxurious morsel, the whole tree is usually sacrificed; yet, were the inmost leaf carefully left, the vegetation would be renewed around it, and the production from one of the most beauteous trees in nature annually repeated.
George Wilson Bridges, 1827
The Cabbage Tree (areca oleracea) grows in the mountainous districts to the height of one hundred and seventy feet, bearing a leafy heart on its summit, which, when boiled, nearly resembles the sea-kale; but to obtain this luxurious morsel, the whole tree is usually sacrificed; yet, were the inmost leaf carefully left, the vegetation would be renewed around it, and the production from one of the most beauteous trees in nature annually repeated.
A Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica,
Philip Henry Gosse, Richard Hill, 1851
Two fine species of real Palms are found in these lofty woods, though not in great numbers. The one is the Long Thatch, a species of Cocos, whose long pinnate fronds are used for thatching the houses of the negro peasants; the other is the Mountain Cabbage (Areca oleracea) one of the very noblest of this kingly race of plants. It shoots up its verdant tuft of feathery fronds to an enormous elevation, some specimens even to the height (as is credibly asserted) of two hundred feet. To think of a tree as high as the Monument of London, with a slender branchless stem, as straight as an arrow, perfectly cylindrical, yet not more than a foot in diameter! The immense spike of blossom that projects in the early autumn from the base of the crown, arching gracefully downwards, is a fine object. I have seen, at such times, the earth beneath the tree, for a space of many square yards, quite white with the scattered pollen, as if a light snow shower had fallen. Bees, Beetles, Flies, and other insects, throng around it in this season, attracted by the nectariferous bloom, and themselves forming an attraction for numerous Swallows, which, darting by on rapid wing, snatch their selected victims as they pass, and wheeling round, return again and again to the prey.
Philip Henry Gosse, Richard Hill, 1851
Two fine species of real Palms are found in these lofty woods, though not in great numbers. The one is the Long Thatch, a species of Cocos, whose long pinnate fronds are used for thatching the houses of the negro peasants; the other is the Mountain Cabbage (Areca oleracea) one of the very noblest of this kingly race of plants. It shoots up its verdant tuft of feathery fronds to an enormous elevation, some specimens even to the height (as is credibly asserted) of two hundred feet. To think of a tree as high as the Monument of London, with a slender branchless stem, as straight as an arrow, perfectly cylindrical, yet not more than a foot in diameter! The immense spike of blossom that projects in the early autumn from the base of the crown, arching gracefully downwards, is a fine object. I have seen, at such times, the earth beneath the tree, for a space of many square yards, quite white with the scattered pollen, as if a light snow shower had fallen. Bees, Beetles, Flies, and other insects, throng around it in this season, attracted by the nectariferous bloom, and themselves forming an attraction for numerous Swallows, which, darting by on rapid wing, snatch their selected victims as they pass, and wheeling round, return again and again to the prey.
The colonial empire of Great Britain, Volume 1
George Rowe, 1864
JAMAICA: Palms: One of the finest of them all is, however, indigenous to Jamaica, namely, the cabbage palm (Areca oleracea). Straight as an arrow, it rears its green tuft of feathery fronds 150 feet and even 200 feet high, with a stem less than a foot in diameter; while its immense spike of flowers arches gently downwards, and in early autumn the scattered pollen covers the ground beneath like a miniature snow-storm.
George Rowe, 1864
JAMAICA: Palms: One of the finest of them all is, however, indigenous to Jamaica, namely, the cabbage palm (Areca oleracea). Straight as an arrow, it rears its green tuft of feathery fronds 150 feet and even 200 feet high, with a stem less than a foot in diameter; while its immense spike of flowers arches gently downwards, and in early autumn the scattered pollen covers the ground beneath like a miniature snow-storm.
The English Cyclopaedia: Geography
Charles Knight, 1866
Areca oleracea, the Cabbage Palm, is the only other species that it is necessary for us to notice. The name of this plant is familiar to most persons from the often repeated fact that a tree of the growth of half a century is sometimes cut down for the sake of the single bud which terminates it, and which is called the cabbage.
The species is found in great abundance in the mountainous parts of Jamaica and other West India islands, growing to the height of from 100 to 200 feet, with a trunk not more than 6 or 7 inches in. This gives it an extremely graceful appearance, especially as the leaves grow from the top only, in a kind of tuft or plume, to the length of 15 feet; these leaves are divided in a pinnated manner, and their divisions are deep green, and several feet long. The unexpanded leaves are arranged so closely one over the other as to obstruct all access of light, which causes them to be of a very tender and delicate nature. It is this which forms the cabbage, which is considered a great delicacy, either raw or boiled. The nuts, which are about the size of a filbert and covered with a yellowish skin, are produced in great abundance upon a very long and branched spadix; the kernel is white and sweet.
Charles Knight, 1866
Areca oleracea, the Cabbage Palm, is the only other species that it is necessary for us to notice. The name of this plant is familiar to most persons from the often repeated fact that a tree of the growth of half a century is sometimes cut down for the sake of the single bud which terminates it, and which is called the cabbage.
The species is found in great abundance in the mountainous parts of Jamaica and other West India islands, growing to the height of from 100 to 200 feet, with a trunk not more than 6 or 7 inches in. This gives it an extremely graceful appearance, especially as the leaves grow from the top only, in a kind of tuft or plume, to the length of 15 feet; these leaves are divided in a pinnated manner, and their divisions are deep green, and several feet long. The unexpanded leaves are arranged so closely one over the other as to obstruct all access of light, which causes them to be of a very tender and delicate nature. It is this which forms the cabbage, which is considered a great delicacy, either raw or boiled. The nuts, which are about the size of a filbert and covered with a yellowish skin, are produced in great abundance upon a very long and branched spadix; the kernel is white and sweet.
Roystonea altissima/montana
Daily Gleaner, August 22, 1968
Alex Hawkes
Remarkably few of my good Jamaican friends are truly aware of the unique botanical largesse which this, their island, possesses. Though many of our most prevalent, and prominent, trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants are introduced, Jamaica can boast of a remarkably diverse indigenous flora.
For example, few residents are cognizant of the native palms, which though not exceptional in their number, are in considerable part endemic, or found exclusively in this country, and nowhere else on earth!
When I first came to Jamaica, I expressed interest in seeing specimens of the Mountain Cabbage or Montane Royal Palm (Roystonea montana), which is well known by botanists as being endemic here. My well-versed horticultural friends without exception stated that they did not know the palm. Yet driving up the Wag Water River valley, I soon found — primarily on the loftiest ridges, for this species delights in such habitat — numbers of the Mountain Cabbage Palm, our precious Roystonea! And my hosts of the time, who have a house at Stony Hill, discovered that there are several marvellous examples of the species right in the town there, and others to be seen — if one looks for them — on the way into Kingston!
Just for the sake of the record, and I am decidedly not poking fun at my Jamaican friends, I accompany this column with a photograph of a relatively typical example of our endemic Jamaican Montane Royal Palm, taken near Richmond, in the parish of St. Mary. It may not be especially thrilling to many people in this country, but I know of a number of people who have travelled to this island just to view the tree in the wild! I am one of these peculiar people, I suppose.
Alex Hawkes
Remarkably few of my good Jamaican friends are truly aware of the unique botanical largesse which this, their island, possesses. Though many of our most prevalent, and prominent, trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants are introduced, Jamaica can boast of a remarkably diverse indigenous flora.
For example, few residents are cognizant of the native palms, which though not exceptional in their number, are in considerable part endemic, or found exclusively in this country, and nowhere else on earth!
When I first came to Jamaica, I expressed interest in seeing specimens of the Mountain Cabbage or Montane Royal Palm (Roystonea montana), which is well known by botanists as being endemic here. My well-versed horticultural friends without exception stated that they did not know the palm. Yet driving up the Wag Water River valley, I soon found — primarily on the loftiest ridges, for this species delights in such habitat — numbers of the Mountain Cabbage Palm, our precious Roystonea! And my hosts of the time, who have a house at Stony Hill, discovered that there are several marvellous examples of the species right in the town there, and others to be seen — if one looks for them — on the way into Kingston!
Just for the sake of the record, and I am decidedly not poking fun at my Jamaican friends, I accompany this column with a photograph of a relatively typical example of our endemic Jamaican Montane Royal Palm, taken near Richmond, in the parish of St. Mary. It may not be especially thrilling to many people in this country, but I know of a number of people who have travelled to this island just to view the tree in the wild! I am one of these peculiar people, I suppose.