CHAPTER IV. 



FLORA OF THE MOLMAIN. 



To the Xaturalist the tree stands the kingly record of 

 the triumph of the vegetable life-principle. A transcen- 

 dental cell, even the imagination can scarcely conceive that 

 from the simplest vital monad such form of loveliness and 

 majesty could ever arrive. 



The stately palm in solitary beauty, the gigantic sequoia 

 and lofty pine spiring to the realms of the clouds, the sturdy 

 "everlasting oak" and imperial magnolia, the banyan-fig- 

 tree and mangrove, must acknowledge brotherhood with the 

 humble lichen on their trunks, or the fragile parasite on their 

 leaves, under the overshadowing unity and tyranny of the 

 law of " organic vesicles." It is thus that the primordial 

 formula of the tree appears to the eye of science, under the 

 profane microscope, the ruthless knife, and that despotic 

 law. 



But there are " Trees of Jehovah and Cedars of Lebanon," 

 (Ps. civ. 16,) signifying the spiritual man. (A. C, 7T6.) 

 " Tree also signifies man ; and as man is man by virtue of 

 affection which is of the will, and perception which is of the 

 understanding, therefore these also are signified by tree. 

 There is also a correspondence between man and a tree ; 

 wherefore, in heaven there appear paradises of trees, which 

 correspond to the affections and consequent perceptions of 

 the angels ; and in some places in liell there are also forests 

 of trees, which bear evil fruits, correspondent with the con- 



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