128 
Africa and the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba,’’ published in 
1898, Mr. W. W. A. Fitzgerald refers on more than one occasion 
to the occurrence of a Cycad. Although Fitzgerald was aware of 
possibility, however, that ‘Mikindu ’ may prove to be EL. Hilde- 
brandtii and it is hoped that this note may induce visitors to the 
island to transmit to Kew the material required to settle the 
doubt. 
With the references to mainland localities in Fitzgerald’s work 
we appear to be on surer ground. In his summary of the notable 
vegetable productions seen Fitzgerald gives (p. 617) “ ‘ Kitsapu, 
a Cycad. The heart of this palm-like tree is cut into dice and 
subjected to soaking and drying for three days, after which it 
sage contributed by Taylor to Fitzgerald’s work there is a refer- 
ence to this Cycad which indicates that only one species is to be 
met with in British East Africa and that species, as the various 
specimens collected by Taylor show, is E. Hildebrandtii. f 
Fitzgerald’s own references to this species do not contradict 
this conclusion. In a locality 14 miles north of Rabai, whence 
between Mombasa and the mouth of the Voi River, Fitzgerald 
p- 288). Again, somewhat 
further north, between M’Tondua and Konjora, in 3° 28’ S. 
Island, in 1° 55/ S., 41° 1’ E., his attention was c o a large 
wild Cycad with an enormous pine-apple shaped fruit which the 
i .p. 425 
