42 



At this point there is an avenue of palms, formed of 

 Priichardia pacifica, a palm of Fiji, alternated with Euterpe 

 edulis, a native of Tropical America. Flanking the entrance 

 on either side are clumps of a low-growing palm of Southern 

 China, Rhapis flabelliformis. 



Proceeding up the avenue the plants on the left are : 

 Chrysalidocarpus lutescens ; Cassia siamea, a fine flowering 

 tree; Laportea longifolia; Pandanus Baptistii; and Excoecana 

 Agallocha, a small tree native of India, with extremely acrid 

 milky juice. Also a bed of Holmskioldia sanguinea, a 

 shrub of Northern India, with orange-red flowers ; a huge 

 plant of the Talipot palm of Ceylon, Corypha unibracidifera ; 

 and immediately behind the last named a tree of Cananga 

 odorata, which yields the perfume Ylang-ylang. Near the 

 main drive note the Kei apple, Aberia caffra, native of the 

 Cape and Natal. The fruits of this shrub are used in preserves 

 when ripe, and the shrub itself, being armed with spines, 

 forms a very useful hedge. A plant of Bougainvillaea 

 spectabilis, var. laterita, with handsome brick-red bracts, is 

 here growing over a Catalpa tree. 



The plants of interest to be seen on the right-hand side 

 of the avenue are Brunfelsia americana, a shrubby plant with 

 pale yellow flowers ; Shorea Tulura, a timber tree of India ; 

 and specimens of Euphorbia and Hibiscus. 



By crossing the carriage road an avenue formed of palms 

 of Raphia vinifera is reached. This is the Wine palm of West 

 Africa. It also yields a fibr> used for brush making, which 

 is known as Piassava Fibre or African Bass. The tree is put 

 to many uses in its native country. An attractive feature 

 about most of the palms in the Gardens is the natural ferneries 

 that have become established on the trunks from spores 

 carried by the wind and other agencies. This palm appears to 

 offer the most suitable conditions for fern life, as, being of a 

 low-growing habit, it gives the requisite amount of shade 

 and maintains the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere 

 so essential to the well-being of this class of plants. Other 

 Raphia palms growing in the vicinity are : R. pedunculate a 

 very handsome species from Madagascar, situated on the 

 right-hand side of the avenue near a large Talipot palm ; 

 A" taedigera, the Jupati palm of Brazil, used for many purposes 



