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 fiaktXB Vina ^alm^t ai ^xa^ml 



By CHARLES JECKS. 



Mead December Wi, 1888. 



MR. WALLACE has stated, in his "Malay Archipelago," 

 that the colour of the flowers, and by implication 

 that of the foliage, generally is not so brilliant in tropical 

 ^s in temperate climates. Now it is true that these state- 

 ments are quite at variance with those generally believed 

 concerning the flora of tropical climates ; but coming from 

 the source they do, we can scarcely, I think, dispute their 

 •accuracy. Indeed, if the question be examined, the result 

 will, I think, be found, in accordance with the above 

 ■assertion, as only what might naturally be expected under 

 tropical conditions. 



The idea of brilliant colour appertaining especially to 

 tropical flowers seems, Mr. Wallace remarks, to have arisen 

 partly from the fact that in this country tropical plants 

 ^re generally grown in conservatories, where they are 

 perhaps exposed to abnormal conditions of light, and also 



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