BOTANY

Palms

Bailey’s interest in palms began with a visit to Jamaica in 1910. From 1930 until 1949, he published forty-five papers on the family. Confusion in palm taxonomy had resulted from the inadequacy of preserved specimens on which botanists had based classification since the majority of palms often grow well over 100 feet tall, have huge, leathery leaves, and giant clusters of flowers and fruits. Bailey developed new collecting techniques for palms during his collecting trips to Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, and the West Indies. He believed in the importance of good photographs, and despite many difficulties, he got his specimens and his pictures. The resulting collections at the Bailey Hortorium continue to be among the finest in the world.

Top: Half of a double coconut specimen, Lodoicea maldivica (Double coconut), from the Seychelles Islands

Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium Collection

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