270 REV. R. BARON ON THE 
though not so commonly or so abundantly, in the streams of the 
high plateau of the island which forms the Central Region. In 
the marshes are to be found, among numerous other plants, the 
widely spread Typha angustifolia, which is known as '* Vondrona." 
This also occurs in the central parts of the island, where in some 
places, notably Antsirabe, it is cultivated for the sake of the 
potash which it yields. Another plant common in the marshes is 
Lepironia mucronata, known by the natives as “ Penja.” It isa 
sedge belonging to the Order Cyperacex, and is used largely by 
the native women in the manufacture of sugar-bags which are 
exported to Mauritius. Straw hats are also made of it. In the 
north-east of Madagascar, probably not far from the sea, is to be 
found a liana belonging to Leguminose, which has the longest, 
though not the finest, flower of all the known members of this 
extensive Order of plants. The total length of the flower, which 
is probably yellowish, is 30to 32 centimetres. The plant belongs 
to the genus Bauhinia, and has been named by M. Baillon 
B. Humblotiana. In the western part of this littoral belt are to 
be seen here and there woods composed of a tree known as 
“ Sanga” (lit. a bunch of hair on the front part of the head), from 
the fact of its bearing the branches near the summit. What the 
tree is I do not know, but not improbably it is a species of Wein- 
mannia. Several beautiful Orchids are found on the east coast, 
of which, however, two only, remarkable for their abundance and 
beauty, need here be referred to, Angrecum superbum and A. 
sesquipedale. The former, with its long spike of large and nume- 
rous flowers, which are in blossom in June and July, is extremely 
abundant and beautiful. Whatever else may escape the notice 
of the traveller, this magnificent Orchid, seated in large numbers 
on many of the shrubs and trees, forms far too striking an orna- 
ment to be passed by unheeded. The A. sesquipedale, remark- 
able for the length of its spur, is not so common as A. superbum ; 
nevertheless it is comparatively abundant, generally choosing, 
I believe, as its habitat, trees which overhang the rivers or 
lagoons. 
To the west of the littoral belt comes that portion of the Eastern 
Region which I have spoken of as hilly country, consisting, as it 
does, of innumerable rounded hills, It reaches from about 100 
to 2500 feet above the sea. In this second zone the flora begins 
to assume a different aspect from that of the littoral belt. I can 
only here notice a few of the vegetable forms which, from their 
