LEAVES. 79 



forest-trees of our climate, to the spreading Palms and Bananas 

 of the torrid zone. As we approach the torrid zone, the leaves 

 increase in magnitude ; we can however scarcely credit the re. 

 ports of travellers, who say, that the Talipot tree, in the Island 

 of Ceylon, produces leaves of such size, that twenty persons 

 may be sheltered by one single leaf. Although this account 

 may be exaggerated, there is no doubt of the fact, that the 

 leaves of the torrid zone are of a wonderful size ; and that 

 whole families can make their habitations under the branches 

 of these trees. Here we see the care of that ever kind Prov- 

 idence, which, in countries parched the greater part of the 

 year by a vertical sun, has formed such refreshing shelters. 



Mungo Park, in his travels in Africa, remarks upon the 

 many important uses of palm leaves ; serving as coverings to 

 cottages, as baskets for holding fruit,- and umbrellas for defence 

 against rain or sun. These leaves are a good substitute for 

 paper, and were so used by the eastern nations. Many sup. 

 pose that the scriptures of the Old Testament were originally 

 committed to palm leaves. 



The magnitude of leaves often bears no proportion to the 

 size of the plants to which they belong. The oak, and other 

 forest trees, bear leaves, which appear very diminutive when 

 compared with the cabbage, or burdock. 



Leaves, with respect to Duration, are, 



Caducous, such as fall before the "end of summer. 



Deciduous, falling at the commencement of winter ; this is 

 the case with most vegetables, as far as 30 or 40 from the 

 equator. 



Persistent, or permanent, remaining on the trees amidst the 

 changes of temperature : as,the leaves of the pine and box. 



Evergreen, preserving their greenness through the year ; as 

 the fir-tree and pine, and generally all cone-bearing and resin- 

 ous trees; these change their leaves annually, but the young 

 leaves appearing before the old ones decay, the plant is always 

 green. 



In our climate the leaves are mostly deciduous, Teturningin 

 autumn to their original dust, and enriching the soil from which 

 they had derived their nourishment. In the regions of the tor- 

 rid zone, the leaves are mostly persistent and evergreen ; they 

 seldom fade or decay in less time than six years ; but these 

 same trees, removed to our climate, sometimes become annu- 

 al plants, loosing their foliage every year. The passion-flow- 

 er is an evergreen in a more southern climate. 



Palm-leaves - Leaves not corresponding in magnitude to the size of the plant 

 Duration. 



