The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

FLORA OF M^\.DAOASCAR. 435weslern slopes, with a dryer climate and more arid soil, have a correspondinglypoorer vegetation. The plants of these regions, being snbject to longer periodsof drought and exposed to the hot winds from the neighbouring continent, have aharder foliage and thicker roots. Xeverthelcss, thorny plants, such as abound in thebadly watered parts of Africa, are nowhere met with in the districts of Madagascarpossessing a similar climate ;nor are acacias anywhere seen.One of the most remarkable members of the insular flora is a species of baobab,first described by Grandidier. Without acquiring the colossal dimensions of itsAfrican congener, it excels in the grace and majesty of its outlines. Thetamarind also is a very noble tree, but it occurs only on the west slope of theisland, where the Sakulava chiefs usually construct their dwellings beneath theshade of its wide-spreading branches.The cocoanut-jialm, which flourishes in allthe maritime districts, is believed to be of exotic origin. According to someauthorities, it was introduced, together with the bread-tree, by the Malays, from theEastern Archipelago. But Madagascar also possesses some indigenous speciesof palms, amongst others the sago-tree, a variety of the hyphana akin to thedum-palm of the Xilotic regions, and the raphia, noted for its large, thicksettrunk, its masses of minute foliage, and enormous bunches of fruit, weighing asmuch as three hundred pounds and upwards.The pandanus (takoa), with its spiral sword-shapcd leaves, thrives on the morearid tracts along the seaboard, while the muddy estuaries and coast lagoons areeverywhere overgrown with the widely diffused mangrove. The brushwood andherbaceous vegetation of the depressions, and occasionally of the hill slopes, isovershadowed by a magnificent species of cannacorus, remarkable for the perfectregularity of its broad fern-like leaves. This is the ravenala, or urania speciom,more commonly known as the traveller's tree, because its foliage collects therain-water in sufficient quantity to slake the thirst of passing wayfarers. But itoccurs chiefly in well-irrigated regions where water is abundant, and its chiefadvantage is derived from the excellent building material which it supplies to theinhabitants of the rural districts. The trunk is used for the framework of theirhouses, the larger branches for beams and rafters, the foliage for thatching theroofs.The endemic flora of Madagascar is represented by many other remarkableforms, such as the ovirandrona {iiriraiidra fenesfra/is), an aquatic plant whosooval leaves are variegated like pieces of lace; the filao, or "club-tree" (casiiariiialutcrijoliu), whose enormous roots serve to bind the shifting sands along some partsof the seaboard ; the brchmia spinosa, which, although a member of the poisonousstrychnos family, nevertheless yields an edible fruit ;the aiignecitm scsquipcdale, agigantic orchid which clothes with a mantle of verdure the huge stems of oldforest trees ;the nepenthe, or pitcher-plant, whose large flowers affect the form ofpendant vessels, and contain a considerable supply of water.Trees yielding usefultimber materials, as well as fine cabinet- woods, are very numerous, including suclivaluable varieties as teak, ebony, matwood, violet ebony, and rosewood. Unfortunately,the process of disafforesting is carried on without interruption. It isK V 2