56 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS. [Oh IX. 



the forest trees of our climate, to the spreading palms and ba- 

 uanas of the torrid zone. As we approach the torrid zone, the 

 leaves increase in magnitude ; we can however scarcely credit 

 the report of travellers, who say, that the Talipot tree, in the 

 island of Ceylon, produces If aves of such size, that twenty per- 

 sons may be sheltered by one single leaf. Although this ac- 

 count may be exaggerated, there is no doubt of the fact, that 

 the leaves of the torrid zone are of a wonderful size ; and that 

 whole families often dwell under the branches of these trees. 

 Here we see the care of an ever kind Providence, which, in 

 countries parched the greater part of the year by a vertical sun, 

 has formed such refreshing shelters. 



220. Mungo Park, in his travels in Africa, remarks upon the 

 many important uses of palm leaves ; serving as coverings to 

 cottages, as baskets for holding fruit, and umbrellas for defence 

 against rain or sun. These leaves are a good substitute for pa- 

 per, and were so used by the eastern nations. Many suppose 

 that the scriptures of the Old Testament were originally com- 

 mitted to palm leaves. 



221. The magnitude of leaves often bears no proportion to 

 the size of the plants to which they belong. The Oak, and 

 other forest trees, bear leaves, which appear very diminutive 

 when compared with the Cabbage, or Burdock. 



222. Leaves, with respect to duration, are, 



Caducous, or such as fall before the end of summer ; Deci 

 duous, falling at the commencement of winter ; this is the 

 case with most vegetables, as far as 30 or 40 north of the 

 equator; Persistent, or permanent, remaining on the trees 

 amidst changes of temperature, as the leaves of the Pine and 

 Box ; Evergreen, preserving their greenness through the year, 

 as the Fir-tree and Pine, and generally all cone-bearing and re- 

 sinous trees; these renew their leaves annually, but the young 

 leaves appearing before the old ones decay, the plant is always 

 green. 



223. In our climate the leaves are mostly deciduous, return 

 ing in autumn to their original dust, and enriching the soil 

 from which they had derived their nourishment. In the re- 

 gions of the torrid zone, the leaves are mostly persistent and 

 evergreen ; they seldom fade or decay in less time than sb 

 years ; but these same trees, removed to our climate, some 



220. What is said of the uses of palm leaves 1 



221. Does the size of the leaf correspond to the size of the plant! 



222. How are the leaves divided with respect to duration 1 



223. What is observed of the leaves of our climate with respect to 

 duration and what is said of the leaves of the torrid zone 7 



