1898] Small^Ve(;etatiox in the Bermudas. 103 



form? a very handsome tree when standing out alone. The Pride 

 of India, {Me/ia Azedaj'acJi) a large massive tree with lilac 

 pendulous flowers flanks many houses, and is planted on the 

 streets. But being deciduous, its leafless state and dried, and 

 withered berries in contrast with the f'>liage all round, give it 

 the appearance of a dead tree from November till March, The 

 Mangrove {R/iiaapoj-a Mangle) is abundant along the lagoons, 

 sending out from every branch secondary limbs which foim new 

 trunks and consequently dense thickets. The Mulberry {Morus 

 Rubra) the Ailanthus, Banyan, Mahogan)-, and Calabash, with 

 a variety of others are to be found, but with the exception of 

 the Mulberry have been imported. Palms of every kind abound, 

 and the row of Royal palms {Oreodoxa Oleraeed) at Pembroke 

 Hall some 70 feet hi'gh with a graceful fcather-likc plume of 

 leaves at the summit arc an object of admiration to all. The 

 Palmetto {Sabal Umbraculifera) grows indigenous everywhere, 

 some old specimens rising 20 and 30 feet in damp valleys, whilst 

 on the rocks it is completely dwarfed. Its fruit or seed was used 

 by the early settlers and the wild hogs fed largely thereon ; the 

 leaves were used as thatch for houses, and were woven into 

 baskets ; but with the exception of a few fans made from its 

 bleached leaves the palmetto is now neglected. The Rubber 

 Tree {Ficiis Eiastica) is not uncommon and presents a remarkable 

 growth, branching out from the root with numerous sturdy 

 branches clothed with long thick leathery leaves, the young buds 

 of which are tipped with a reddish brown tinge. It attains a 

 great height and covers a large expanse of ground with its spread- 

 ing boughs. Although scarcely ranking as a tree, the Bamboo 

 may claim the rank, as in sheltered places it {Bauibusa Aruu- 

 dinacea) raises its rodlike stems 30 and 40 feet high, attaining 

 at their lower joints the thickness of a man's thigh. The stem 

 has slender branches o{ solid growth which bear leaves about six 

 inches long. The cane terminates in a large tawny plume or 

 panicle, which sways with every passing breeze. 



With the exception of two or three species, there arc no trees 

 that may be called deciduous on the islands. Although not 



