THE BOTANY OF ANTIGUA 47 



occur abundantly; the Nickers (C^sa/jjwi(i spp.) and many 

 Cassias are indigenous and very common, while Barbados Pride 

 {CcEsaljnnia pulcherrima) and the Flamboyant are among the 

 most successful ornamental plants. 



The Combretaceye have a vast number of individuals among 

 the Mangrove in the swamps and in the Antigua Whitewood 

 {Terminalia Buceras) of the low lying parts of the Central 

 Plain. 



The Euphorbiaceae are well represented, as are the Convolvu- 

 laceaB, with IpomcBa and Cusciita as the chief genera. 



Amaryllidaceae are very common both as wild and cultivated 

 plants ; much more so than the Liliaceas. 



Solanacete furnish many of the commonest weeds and also 

 some garden plants hke the Egg-plant— the Tomato and Enghsh 

 Potato are also grown. 



Compositae are only represented by a few species, which are, 

 however, mostly very common, such as the different kinds of 

 Wedelia and the wild Tobacco (Pluchea odorata). 



Only two or three small orchids occur in the island, one being 

 the Yellow Orchid {Oncidium Lemonianum) . Cactaceae and 

 Bromeliaceae, as might be expected, are very well represented, 

 including the most markedly xerophytic plants in the flora. 



There are very few indigenous Palms. The Date, Coconut, and 

 Cabbage Palm [Oreodoxa regia) all grow well, while the graceful 

 Gru-gru occurs in the sheltered valleys of the volcanic region. 

 The Coconut is certainly introduced by man, and probably the 

 Date ( Fhcenix dactylifera) also. 



The Tree Ferns which are so conspicuous in St. Kitts are 

 conspicuous in Antigua only by their absence. Indeed ferns of 

 all kinds seem to find the dryness of Antigua too much for them. 

 Their absence is everywhere noticeable. 



A Coviparison of the Flora ivith those of the neighhouring 

 islands. — The flora of Antigua differs markedly from those of the 

 other islands. The difference is mainly due to the xerophytic 

 characteristics of the vegetation of Antigua, consequent on its 

 small rainfall and its openness to the Trade Wind. Only in the 

 valleys of the south-west do we find the rich green and the 

 tropical profusion of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and the rest. 

 Only here can limes, oranges, bananas, and other typical fruits 

 be produced; and only here to any extent are there patches of 

 true forest with giant Silk-cottons (Eriodendron) and long hanging 

 lianes. 



The Central Plain, with its principal covering of Acacias, is, 

 both geologically and botanically, unique in the West Indies, to 

 my knowledge. The plants of the Volcanic Eegion are of the 

 same general type as those of the volcanic islands composing the 

 Windward and Leeward Islands. The Limestone area differs 

 considerably in the character of its flora from Barbuda, which is 

 only twenty-six miles north of it, and is composed entirely of 

 limestone, being a typical coral formed island. It has very little 

 " Gossi " ; it is covered in most places with bush consisting of 



