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.