PALM HOUSE 119 



our greatest poet, which, by sending i forth shoots from its 

 branches, contrives to spread over so large an extent of 

 ground that 7,000 persons, it is said, have been sheltered 

 under a single tree. One near Poona had a crown of more 

 than 500 yds. in circumference in 1882 (Engler), and another 

 on the banks of the Nerbuddah has at least 320 large trunks 

 and 3,000 small ones (Forbes) 



Spreading so broad and long, that in the ground, 

 The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 

 About their mother- tree, a pillared shade 

 High over-arched, and echoing walks between. 



Ficus pandanus, growing in this house, has leaves shaped like 

 those of an oak, but they may measure i ft. across. 



Ficus religiose the Sacred Bo or Pepul Tree, is remarkable 

 for the tail-like points at the tips of its leaves, which are con- 

 verted, by a kind of maceration in water, and subsequent 

 vanishing, into a sort of paper, upon which the Chinese make 

 drawings. One Sacred Bo Tree growing at Anarajapoora is 

 stated to be the oldest historical tree in the world, for it was 

 planted in 288 B.C. " The Buddhist priests object to lop it 

 with any weapon, and only distribute to pilgrims the leaves 

 which fall naturally to the ground." F. benjamina and 

 F. roxburgii) remarkable for its large circular leaves, are 

 also grown. 



Another curious plant of this family is the Bread-fruit 

 Tree, Artocarpus incisa of the Pacific Islands. Its fruit 

 resembles a gigantic Mulberry ; it is a compound fruit, sorosis^ 

 formed from flowers densely packed round a common axis 

 It is as large as a child's head, and is commonly baked with 

 hot stones. 



Another curiosity is the Dorstenia draksana, which bears 

 remarkable inflorescences. 



