60 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



and rugged hills in the Five Islands district not far from St. 

 John's, the only town in the island ; they belong perhaps to the 

 particular limestone there known as Seaforth's, 



3. The Volcanic Begion. — The Flora of the low but rugged, 

 andesitic, mountains consists mainly of shrubs and of Cactacege 

 and allied plants. The common Prickly Pear [Ojnintia Tuna) is 

 abundant though not confined to this region ; the little Prickly 

 Pear, known locally as the "Sucker" {Opuntia triacantha) is 

 found in large numbers near English Harbour, though not in 

 other parts. It is " horrid with spines," and the oval stem pieces 

 easily break off and adhere to one's boots and clothing. Very 

 possibly this is a means of vegetative reproduction, for flowers and 

 fruits seem to be rather infrequent in this species. Another 

 Cactus typical of the region is the Turk's Head [Melocactus com- 

 munis), which is specially abundant near the sea ; while a new 

 species of Mainmillaria was recently discovered by Dr. Eose, of the 

 Smithsonian Institute of New York. The tall Dildo (Cereus 

 insularis) is abundant on the mountains, and also occurs on the 

 limestone, as does Melocactus to some extent, especially in 

 Barbuda (see above). The Frangipani {Plumeria alba) and the 

 tall Dagger {Agave americana) are typical of this region, and 

 present strongly xerophytic characters. 



The shrubs include a few acacias and great quantities of 

 Guava {Psidiun Guajava) and Cashew {Anacardi^im occide?itale), 

 which only occur in this area. The Logwood grows on many of 

 the sheltered mountain sides, and so does the stately Cabbage 

 Palm (Oreodoxa regia). 



4. The Antigua Limestone. — The Flora of this region, while 

 forming a distinct Association, nevertheless includes some plants 

 which occur in the Littoral or Volcanic groups. The plants which 

 are common to the Volcanic and Limestone Associations are 

 the Prickly Pear (Opuntia Tima), the Dildo {Cereus insularis), the 

 Dagger {Agave americana) and the Logwood {Hcematoxylon 

 campeachianum) . Plants which occur both on sandy shores and 

 on the Limestone hills are the Seaside Grape {Goccoloba uvifera) 

 and the wide-spread Dagger. The Seaside Grape is indeed as 

 typical of hillside plants as of seashore plants. All the above are 

 commonly found in this area as well as in the others mentioned. 

 There are, however, a great number of plants which are almost 

 entirely confined to this part of the island, or to the limestone 

 hills, which crop out in certain parts of the Central Plain, especi- 

 ally at its western end near St. John's. These include Pedilanthus 

 tithymaloides, known locally as the Milk Bush or Slipper Plant, a 

 deadly poisonous species ; two kinds of Thorn Apple or Wild Fire 

 Bush {Datura Stramonium and D. Metel) ; the privet {Clerodejidron 

 aculeatum), beloved of humming-birds ; the Wild Tamarind, 

 which makes horses' tails drop out ; and the Love Bush {Bryo- 

 phyllum calycinum) with its thick fleshy leaves, which form buds 

 so easily in the notches round the margin. Tecoma stans is fre- 

 quently found, and so is a species of Fic2cs {? F. religiosa), with 

 its small forest of stems like the Indian Banyan, and the White 



