272 REV. R. BARON ON THE 
Haronga madagascariensis, Mussenda arcuata, Scoparia duleis, 
Sabicea diversifolia, Emilia amplexicaulis, Elephantopus scaber, 
the last of which, in some parts of the Tanala country, grows so 
abundantly as seriously to impede travelling, various species of 
Sida, Clitoria lasciva, with its large, beautiful, shell-like, blue 
flowers, and Piper subpeltatum, both of which are also found in 
Western Madagascar, and Orchipeda Thouarsii, known to the 
natives as * Kaboka " or “ Kangarano," a small tree with abundant 
milky juice, and a fruit (often two together) about the size of an 
apple. The tree grows in almost all the warm valleys from the 
coast to an elevation of about 3000 feet above the sea, as also in 
the valleys of the western part of the island. But perhaps among 
the plants most abundant in individuals, Amomum Daniellii, the 
Malagasy Cardamom, occupies the most prominent place. It 
commences in the littoral belt, but reaches its maximum develop- 
ment at an elevation of from 2000-3000 feet above the sea, in 
some places almost covering the whole country. This also is one 
of the plants common to the Eastern and Western Regions. 
Finally, the famous “traveller’s tree," Ravenala madagascari- 
ensis, finds its most congenial home in this intermediate belt, 
though it occurs also in the north-west of the island. The tree 
ranges from the sea-coast to the height of about 1500 feet, after 
which it begins rapidly to disappear. At an elevation of about 
1000 feet it is extremely abundant, much more abundant in fact 
than any other tree, and with its twenty or thirty large leaves 
arranged on the summit of the stem like a gigantic fan, is the one 
striking and peculiar feature in the vegetation. It is not found 
so much in the forests as on the hillsides in the open country. 
Its uses, like its native names, are various. The stem yields an 
edible substance, probably a sweet liquid. The leaf-sheaths 
contain a supply of pure cool water, from which peculiarity 
indeed the tree derives its name of * traveller's tree," thougb, 
asa matter of fact, it generally grows where fresh cold water is 
obtainable in abundance. The blade of the leaf, very similar to 
that of the banana, is largely used by the natives in building their 
frail huts, and, while still green, as substitutes for spoons, plates, 
and tables. The tree is known to the Betsimisaraka as “ Ravi- 
nala,” “ Ravimpotsy," and “ Fontsy." Among other tribes it is 
called * Bemavo,” * Bakabia," and“ Akondrohazo.” In the whole 
of Madagascar, where it is endemic, there is no more remarkable 
vegetable form than the “ traveller’s tree," and certainly none 
