Palms have long been an important resource to tropical man, providing shelter, food and wood. The Malay archipelago has a greater palm density than any other area, and Singapore Island alone contains more species than the entire African continent. The characteristics of palms and their construction are outlined in this work, which describes all the genera of wild palms and some of the more common introduced varieties. The author shows the part they play in the culture and heritage of Malaya. The non-technical text is illustrated with over 100 line drawings and plates.