FLORA OF MADAGASCAR. 263 
capitata, Olyra latifolia, Cois Lachryma, Eleusine indica, E. 
@gyptiaca, Eragrostis ciliaris, E. Chapelieri, Nastus capitatus, 
Asplenium bipartitum. 
That the flora of the Central Region should differ widely from 
the flore of the Eastern and Western Regions is accounted for 
by the great elevation above the sea of the central part of the 
island. But how are we to explain the existence of so great a 
difference between the floras of the Eastern and Western Regions, 
occupying, as they do, the same latitudinal and altitudinal posi- 
tions, for of the 2206 plants found in the Eastern and Western 
Regions only 128 (not reckoning the 100 occurring in all the three 
Regions) are common to both? I believe the explanation to be 
simple. The central elevated plateau of the island, which runs 
from north to south, is undoubtedly of very great antiquity, 
having existed not improbably from Paleozoic times, and has 
therefore always formed a barrier between the floras of the 
Eastern and Western Regions. The floras therefore, even if they 
were formerly similar, which is doubtful, have had abundance of 
time to become differentiated in character; and if they were 
originally different, they have been kept, by the existence of the 
mountain barrier, distinct to the present day. 
The flowering season in Madagascar, generally speaking, is 
from October to January, but November and December are the 
months in which more especially the great majority of plants are 
in bloom. In no part of the year, however, does the climate 
become sufficiently winterly to cause more than a comparative 
cessation in the flowering of plants, and very few of the trees 
and shrubs shed their leaves even in the coldest season. Very 
many species are in flower for six or eight months, and a goodly 
number all the year round. Of the latter may be mentioned 
Solanum | erythracanthum, S. auriculatum, Geranium. simense, 
Cassia occidentalis, Rubus rosefolius, Tristemma virusanum, 
Emilia citrina, Lobelia serpens, Scoparia dulcis, Achyranthes 
aspera, and Euphorbia splendens. 
There are comparatively few plants having beautiful flowers in 
Madagascar. There are no meadows anywhere in the island that 
can at all compare with our English meadows for floral beauty. 
Neither do the forests supply what is lacking in the meadows. 
Any one entering a Malagasy forest with the anticipation of 
seeing innumerable beautiful flowers would be utterly disap- 
pointed, for they are extremely rare. There are indeed pretty 
