— 118 — 



and what are indigenous, Baker's Flora of Mauritius 

 and Seyclielles was selected as the guide. 



The naturalized plants are common on the main- 

 land — Mauritius — also. In the Flora of Mauritius 

 they hold the same place as they do in that of Flat 

 Island— namely naturalized in both. They have most 

 probably spread from Mauritius to Flat Island'. 



It is impossible to say for certain by what agen- 

 cies they have been introduced, most likely by three 

 or four : namely birds, winds, currents of the sea, and 

 by man. By far the largest number of the naturalized 

 plants are mere weeds, such as the " Herbe Caille, '' 

 Tridax procumbens, the " Epinard sauvage, " Cheno- 

 podium murale, and three species of Amaranthus— 

 Bredes Malahares. 



The common Spinach is apparently one of the most 

 recent introductions. A plant or two of it was disco- 

 vered growing beautifully underneath a bush of the 

 " Veloutier, " Tarnefortia argentea, amongst the coral 

 sand on the shore near the place where the boat lands* 

 How came it there ? Perhaps by seed dropped out of 

 a parket which some one was taking to sow on the 

 Island, or, what is just as likely, a shoot had fallen 

 from a bundle of this vegetable brought from the 

 mainland for culinary purposes. In either case th^ 

 circumstances of the site have as yet proved favour- 

 able to the growth of this plant. But one would 

 think, judging from the nature of the place where the 

 plant is growing, that it will be swept away by the 

 wavos during a hurricane, as the site is only about 

 three feet above high water mark. 



The " Masson," Zyziphus jajaba, is the most 

 common of the naturalized fruit trees ; next in point 

 of number is the " Jamblongue," Eugenia jambolana, 



