426 Mr. G. Munby on the Botanical Productions 
XLIV.—On the Botanical Productions of the Kingdom of Algiers, 
Sollowed by a short notice of the supposed Manna of the Israel- 
ates. By Gites Munsy, Esq.* 
Since the occupation by the French in 1830 of the kingdom of 
Algiers, but little has been done to advance the knowledge of its 
natural-history productions, and, if we except the ‘ Travels ’of our 
own countryman Dr. Shaw, who visited Barbary about a century 
ago, and the ‘ Flora Atlantica’ of Desfontaines, no work has ever 
been published devoted to the natural history of this country. 
The vegetation of the coast of Barbary resembles in a great 
measure that of the Spanish and French shores of the Mediter- 
ranean; but although the general features of its flora are the 
same, many species of plants are found in Barbary which are 
unknown to the continent of Europe. 
A botanist of the North of Europe is struck by the quantity of 
prickly pears (Cactus Opuntia) and American aloés (Agave ame- 
ricana), which, with a few date-palms scattered here and there, 
give a tropical appearance to the vegetation. The same feature 
is however observed on the Spanish coast near Malaga and the 
southern provinces. 
The dwarf palm (Chamerops humilis) is another plant common 
to both regions, and in Algeria covers immense tracts of country, 
resembling fields of grass or young corn, as this palm very sel- 
dom produces a trunk. They sometimes rise to the height of 
20 feet in the neighbourhood of some Marabout or Saint’s tomb, 
which may probably depend on the care taken of them in such a 
situation. ‘This plant is one of the most useful that the country 
produces. The leaves are made into baskets, cords, fans, sacks, 
sleeping mats, &c. The fibre which surrounds the stalks of the 
leaves, spun with camels’ hair, serves to make the Arab tent. 
The centre of the plant, consisting of the tender foot-stalks of 
the leaves and the young flowers and their sheaths, forms one of 
the principal articles of food for the Arabs during a certain sea- 
son of the year, and I have seen wandering tribes going about 
with their donkeys loaded with these roots and no other provi- 
sion. The fruit ripens in autumn, and is eaten by jackals and by 
the Arab shepherds ; but although sweet, its astrmgency renders 
it unfit for a European palate. 
The Cactus Opuntia, called in the country Kermous ensarah, or 
Christians’ fig, is another plant which furnishes in due season 
the Arab his nourishment. This fruit ripens in July and con- 
tinues until the autumnal rains in September or October ; it is 
* Communicated by the Author; having been read before the British 
Association at the Meeting held at Birmingham, Sept. 12, 1849. 
