FLORA OF MADAGASCAR. 285 
The Leguminose, as may be seen from the table on page 260, 
is by far the most abundantly represented Order in the Western 
Region, occupying as much as 188 per cent. of the flora. The 
Euphorbiacee come next, but these are only represented by 7:7 
per cent. The Composite, which in the Central Region comprise 
13 per cent. of the flora, being the head of the list, as also 
Rubiacee, here stand at 3:2 per cent. There seem to be but 
two Orders, the Hydrophyllacee (2 spp.) and Aristolochiacese 
(1 sp.), which are confined to this Region. On the other hand, 
a goodly number of Natural Orders represented, though in some 
cases by but one or two species, in the other Regions, are 
entirely or almost absent from the Western Region. Rutacem, 
Cactex, Goodenoviee, Araliacex, Vacciniacex, Ericacex, Primu- 
lacez, Myrsinex, Lentibularia, Selagines, Illecebracex, Phyto- 
laccacex, Nepenthacex, Proteaces, Balanophorex, Santalaces, 
Coniferx, Cyeadaces, Salieinew, Burmanniaces, Iridew, Hypoxi- 
dacez, Naiadacex, and Eriocaulonex are apparently quite absent 
from the Region; and Ranuneulaces, Cruciferm, Guttifere, 
Geraniacex, Crassulacex, Melastomacex, Umbelliferee, Campanu- 
lacew, Loganiacew, Gentianacex, Scrophulariacex, Gesneraces, 
Labiate, Monimiacex, Laurinex, Loranthacer, Urticacex, and 
Liliacez have in it but few representatives. 
The most abundantly represented genera are:—Grewia (28 
species), Hibiscus (21), Ipomea (18), Dalbergia (18), Euphorbia 
(18), Zndigofera (15); Croton and Cyperus, with 12 each; Dom- 
beya and Desmodium, 11 each; Bauhinia, Mimosa, and Albizzia, 
9 each; Alsodeia, Buettneria, Erythroxylon, Mascarenhaisia, 
and Fieus, 8 each ; Popowia, Polygala, Commiphora, Crotalaria, 
Terminalia, Homalium, and Acalypha, 7 each; Tristellateia, 
LEschynomene, Cassia, Phyllanthus, and Tragia, 6 each; Clero- 
dendron and Macaranga, 5 each. It will be seen from this that 
there is no genus of plants in the Region forming an undue pro- 
portion of the flora. 
I shall now briefly refer to some of the trees and shrubs which 
most largely influence the vegetable physiognomy of the Region, 
or which, as affording valuable timber, or being otherwise re- 
markable, deserve special mention. Among the commonest trees 
and shrubs are Ficus cocculifolia, the Tamarind, the Rofia Palm 
(Raphia Ruffia), the “Rotra” (Eugenia, sp.), the “ Sohihy ” 
(Cephalanthus spathelliferus), and Weinmannia lucens, all of 
which have been already referred to. In addition to these there 
