FLORA OF MADAGASCAR. 287 
analogue, sans doute, à celle du Baobab commun. Mais ce qu'il 
y ade remarquable, c'est que les maisons de commerce dont il 
est question exploitent aussi la portion la plus blanehe et Ia plus 
molle de l'écoree. Peut-être est ce pour en tirer une substance 
gommeuse ou mucilagineuse, cette sort de sue laiteux dont parle 
Bernier.” The Malagasy names of the tree are “ Reniala," 
* Bontona,” and “ Za." 
Among the most common plants found in woody places may 
be mentioned the “ Manary " (Dalbergia trichocarpa, and pro- 
bably one or two other species of Dalbergia), which afford, I 
believe, a useful timber (exported to Europe ?), and the * Amo- 
kombe ” (Gardenia succosa), from which exudes a kind of gum. 
In similar places is to be found the “ Agy ” (Mucuna axillaris), 
a climbing plant which is remarkable for the very virulent stinging 
properties of the hairs which cover its pod. Not far from the 
sea grows the “ Sorindrana " (Sorindeia madagascariensis), a tree 
with bunches of sweet edible fruit. On the west coast (as also 
on the east coast) oceurs the Guettarda speciosa, khe tree which 
yields the wood known by cabinet-makers as zebra-wood. The 
Sakalava call it “ Tambaribarisa." 
Of the trees and shrubs found in the forests of the Western 
Region we possess as yet little definite information, although a 
large number of them are now known to science. The well- 
known Malagasy ebony is apparently an inhabitant of these 
forests. Its wood is smuggled out of the country by the Saka- 
lava, and exported to Europe. But to what species of Diosypros 
the ebony belongs has, I believe, never yet been ascertained, 
At present there are 22 species of Diospyros known in the 
island. Thirteen of these, if not more, are found in the Eastern 
Region. It is not unlikely that the tree (or trees) which supplies 
tbe ebony is one (or more) of the following :— Diospyros graci- 
lipes, D. toxicaria, D. Pervillei, D. parvifolia, D. lenticellata, or 
D. mierorhombus, the last of which is described as:—“ Ebenier 
de Madagascar ; son bois est superbe." 
CHARACTER AND RELATIONSHIP OF THE MADAGASCARIAN FLORA. 
Mr. Baker, in the paper he read at the meeting of the British 
Association at York in 1881, has described the general character 
of the flora of Madagascar, and has shown its geographical rela- 
tionship. Of genera that are cosmopolitan he says that * nearly 
