286 THE FLORA OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA part hi 



groves as the typical forms of the coast zone, it is necessary to 

 make a separate zone for the " Foot-hills " that occur in most 

 places between the coast plains and the inland plateau. As, 

 however, most of the shrubs and herbs on these hills are the 

 same as those on the lower zone, except when directly due to 

 difference of soil, this belt is not very important. The most 

 striking feature in this zone is the abundance of fruit-trees, 

 most of which, however, have been introduced. Thus the 

 mango [Mangifcra indica, Linn.) and the betel-nut palm {Areca 

 catechu, Linn.) have been imported from India ; the cashew- 

 nut tree {Anacardiiim occidentale, Linn.) and the papaw {Carica 

 papaya, Linn.) from South America. The Jack-fruit {Artocar- 

 piis integrifolia, Linn.) represents the bread-fruit tree of the 

 South Sea Islands ; while the orange, lime, lemon, custard- 

 apple, pomegranate, pine-apple, and guava are included among 

 the debts which East Africa owes to the Arab settlers. , 



Among the indigenous plants there is a considerable pro- 

 portion of Indian species, for the flora of both the lower zones 

 contains many plants, common round the shores of the Indian 

 Ocean. The specific names of some of the commonest, such 

 as Cephalandra indica, Naud., Abutilon asiaticum, G. Don., 

 Glycine javanica^ Linn., and CentroscDia virginianuni^ Benth., 

 indicate the affinities of this flora. 



3. The Nyika. — The third botanical zone commences at 

 the summit of the slope that terminates the coast plains. Thence 

 it extends inland for a great distance, occupying the whole of 

 the " Nyika " and the gneiss mountains that rise above it. The 

 differences between the flora of this zone and that of the coast- 

 lands force themselves upon the notice of the most casual 

 observer. Fruit-trees disappear, palms become scarce, the 

 shady mango trees and sycamores are replaced by thin loose 

 scrub. The main characteristics of this zone are the prevalence 

 of spine- leaved acacias, and plants with massive succulent 

 stems or leaves, such as the aloes, euphorbias, Sanscviera, and 

 Arisiolochia. The acacia scrub extends across the country for 

 hundreds of miles. The trees as a rule are low (usually from 

 10 to 20 feet in height), flat-topped, and often umbrella- 

 shaped. At times they grow so close together that a path has 

 to be cut through them ; as the scrub is thorny, and the 

 undergrowth consists of hideously - barbed briers and of 



