120 VEGETATION OF LORD HOWE ISLAND, 



the peculiar arrangement of its roots, which, taking their rise all 

 round the main stem at determinate heights corresponding with 

 the period of their formation, extend themselves outwards and 

 downwards until they become fixed in the earth, so that the 

 central trunk is supported by a cone of props, easily convertible 

 into a tent. The leaves of this plant are usually developed in 

 three spirals passing from right to left, but instances occur in 

 which they take an opposite direction. Its fruit is composed of 

 fibrous drupes clustered together in little parcels round the spadix. 

 They are of a bright red colour when ripe, and are supposed to 

 possess aperient properties, but the children of the island eat 

 them with impunity. 



" It is quite remarkable to observe the great variety of trees 

 which present a similar character of foliage, but which differ so 

 much in the texture and quality of the timber. With the excep- 

 tion of the palm tribe and some of the plants which have been 

 introduced by the settlers, the pre\alent form of simple leaves, as 

 well as of the leaflets of compound ones, is ovate and acute. The 

 creeping plants of the forest are very numerous, and not at all to 

 be distinguished b}^ their trunks or stems — many of which attain 

 a diameter of four or five inches. From the tortuous way in 

 which they trail along the ground, entwine and interlace with 

 one another, scale the loftiest trees, wander through their closely 

 set branches, descend and mount again, deriving fresh succour 

 from the earth — they acquire a very great length, and in many 

 places they are so thickly interwoven as to form impassable 

 barriers. Besides these woody creepers, there are others, which 

 always retain their sapp}^ stems, and completely embower young 

 cabbage plants and suckers of other trees. 



" There is also a kind of reed or cane* with a pithy stem and 

 stout clasping extremities to the leaves, which climbs the trees, 

 peers above the foliage, and, like the creepers just noticed, often 

 descends again and trails along the ground; one of these measured 

 136 links in length. 



* F/atje/laria indica. 



