THE PALAEOTROIM* - 



IT:. 



is much restricted by the limited extent of this "rain-fori 



as well as by latitude and elevation, which result in a much Lower 

 average temperature than in the equatorial coastal belt. 



The most important trees of the Zambesi rain-forest are two 

 species of Syzygium, a handsome evergreen tree of the myrtle 

 family, which has few African representatives. These were low 

 spreading trees, and with them were associated three species of 

 Ficus, which were much taller, 50-60 feet, and over these w< r«- 

 growing several stout woody climbers, with cable-like stems. 

 The ground was carpeted with maidenhair, and other ferns, and 



Fig. 53.— " Rain-forest," Victoria Falls of the Zambesi, Rhodesia, 



among them were growing several orchids, as well as various other 

 herbaceous plants. 



This bit of rain-forest is especially interesting as it was originally 

 described by Livingstone when he discovered the great Victoria 

 Falls. While it presents a decidedly tropical aspect, still one miss 

 some of the plants which would be found at similar altitudes nearer 

 the equator. Thus there are no tree-ferns, or the conspicuous 

 wild gingers, bananas, arums and rattans which one associates with 

 the upland rain-forest of the equatorial regions. This, however. 

 is probably a matter of. isolation as much as temperature, since 

 many of these tropical growths would probably flourish if trims- 

 ported to the Zambesi rain-forest. 



