Liberia <♦- 



Monodora mytistica, the seed-vessels of which are known as 

 " African nutmegs." They are large in size, from four to six 

 inches across. The flowers of this African nutmeg are also 

 very large and noticeable — white inside, pale green outside, 

 spotted with red-purple. 



All the stagnant fresh water of Liberia abounds in " water- 

 lilies," apparently all, or nearly all, belonging to the widespread 

 species Njmp/i^a loius, though obviously developing into peculiar 

 varieties, sometimes with very long stalks that rise high out 

 of the water. In the eastern part of Liberia there is a variety 

 or sub-species much smaller in size, the outer sepals of which 

 (round the white petals) are deep blue. This is a beautiful 

 little water-lily which might well be introduced to cultivation. 



Amongst the Mallow order {Malvacea) there are, of course, 

 many species of Hibiscus, amongst which is the plant that 

 yields the " okro " vegetable so popular throughout West 

 Africa, where amongst other qualities it is prized as a mild 

 aphrodisiac. The young fruits of this plant — okroes — are used 

 in soup or are boiled as a vegetable. They are gelatinous and 

 slimy, with an agreeable flavour. Other forms of Hibiscus 

 yield strong and useful fibres, or have seeds which are 

 ground up into strong-smelling perfumes. There is certainly 

 one indigenous species of wild cotton {Gossypium -pumtatum .?) 

 which has not yet figured in any collection of plants from 

 Liberia, but which is in all probability the plant yielding 

 the cotton so much manufactured in the interior. But the 

 American form of cotton, Gossypium peruvianum (probably in- 

 troduced from South America), and also G. barbadense, the Sea 

 Island cotton, are common throughout the coast belt of Liberia. 

 The magnificent Bombax or silk cotton tree found in Liberia 

 is B. buonopozense. Its flowers are noteworthy and very 

 picturesque. They are crimson-scarlet throughout, bell-shaped, 



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