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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



thick, rough, furrowed bark of 

 our own forests, only smooth 

 trunks even in the case of large 

 and old trees. This often leads 

 strangers to underestimate the 

 size of tropical trees, for they 

 have come to think of smooth 

 hark as belonging only to small 

 trees. 



The limp, dangling leaves of 

 some tropical trees are most curi- 

 ous. They are frequently quite 

 red, just as are the young leaves of 

 maples in temperate climates. It 

 is not easy to say just why some 

 plants have adopted this peculiar 

 habit of letting the leaves grow full 

 size before they are strong enough 

 to stand out in proper fashion. 

 Certain it is, however, that. by 

 hanging down in this way the 



The Sausage Tree. , -, 1 \ 1 



young, tender leaves are much less 

 exposed, and hence in less danger of injury by excessive light and heat. 



A moist climate, such as that 

 of Buitenzorg, favors the growth 

 of epiphytic or perched plants — 

 also of parasites. Seeds or spores, 

 carried by the wind or birds, find 

 lodgment in the forks of trees. 

 With plenty of moisture in the 

 air and a constant warm tempera- 

 ture they grow luxuriantly. Thus 

 it happens that trees are covered 

 with moss. Even the very leaves 

 are often marked with delicate 

 patterns of moss and lichen. 

 Orchids and ferns in great num- 

 ber are perched upon the hori- 

 zontal branches and the smooth 

 trunks also serve for the lodgment 

 of many plants as well. Since 

 Darwin's time every one has 

 known something about orchids: 

 plantswith curious flowers adapted chocolate tree, showing caulanthy. 



