10 



though far moved from a dwelling house. Slips or branches 

 of geranium thrown away or dropped by chance, root readily 

 anywhere under favourable conditions, and the flower may be 

 cited as another evidence of how quickly plants revert to their 

 original state. 



Tropaeolum Majus. (common nasturtium.) Reade men. 

 tions this as closely allied to the geranium. Its three-lobed 

 Ijerry is used as a substitute for capers. Like the geranium, 

 although properly a garden flower, it is common on the island. 

 A small mound on the South shore, not far West of Hungry 

 Bay, and distant from any dwelling, used to be clothed with 

 na-^turtium, the mound probably having been garden refuse 

 there dumped from a cart going to the bay for seaweed. 



Natural Order Rutaceae. 



Zanthoxylum Clava-FIercules. lyinn. (yellow wood. ) 

 Ivcfroy mentions only a single tree, some ten inches in 

 diameter, east of Paynter Vale. He believes it to be the last 

 survivor of the native yellow wood mentioned in the earliest 

 accounts of the Islands. Professor Oliver, Kew, gave it as his 

 opinion that the early descriptions apply closely to this tree, 

 Lefroy says it never flowers; young plants, whether suckers 

 or seedlings are not known, failed to grow on removal, owing 

 to their tap-roots always breaking off in the rock crevices. 

 Professor Oliver also says that the leaves submitted to him 

 agree fairly with a flowerless Dominican specimen. The tree at 

 Paynter Vale was planted by a Mr. Paynter over one hundred 

 years ago. 



Citrus Limonum. Risso, (common lemon). A small tree 

 with rough branches, often interlocked and armed with strong 

 thorns some two inches long; leaves three and one-half inches 

 long, alternate, of a bright green; flowers white, followed by a 

 rough yellow oblong fruit, with thick rind. This fruit, which 

 was formerly cultivated, has, by neglect, through insect 

 ravages, and blight, been allowed to revert to a wild state and 

 is to be found on the outskirts of cultivation. Lefroy cites 

 three varieties; but un-named. 



Citrus Vulgaris. Risso. (seville orange). Grows from 



