WILD PLANTS. 405 



having supplied useful individuals. The Guinea-grass (Panicum 

 jumentorum), though not, I believe, indigenous to Trinidad, is 

 now found wild in some localities. A panicum grows at the 

 Bocas islands, called Guinea-grass ; it is very nearly allied to the 

 former, but I am dubious as to their complete identity. Next to 

 this comes the Para-grass, also a panicum, introduced here at 

 some trouble, and which soon became an intolerable nuisance. I 

 must also mention the Bahama-grass (Cynodon Linearis) ; this, 

 however, was not perhaps intentionally introduced or propagated 

 in the island. The same observation applies to the coco-nut tree. 



A few amarantacese — for instance, Amaranthus spinosus — 

 were probably of foreign extraction, and accidentally imported. 

 Sesamum orientale grows wild here and there, but only in single 

 specimens. 



Among crassulaceae, the Bryophyllum calycinum deserves to 

 be mentioned. 



A few cucurbitacese were also brought in, no doubt, originally, 

 as an article of sustenance; but from their immense spread 

 they may now be considered almost as indifferent weeds ; such 

 are the common pumpkin and the mexicain (Momordica 

 balsamina). 



Several species of opuntias and cereus are to be found every- 

 where ; these certainly are not indigenous. 



Two species of clerodendron are regular pests all round 

 Port-of-Spain. 



If, now, we turn to those plants which grow wild, although 

 not indigenous, being of fortuitous introduction, our knowledge 

 becomes more restricted still. 



An European poa grows wild in the streets and courtyards 

 of Port-of-Spain, and I am inclined to believe that scourge of 

 the gardener and planter — the nut-grass (Cyperus hydra) — to be 

 a foreigner. 



A number of so called cosmopolitan plants — such as the 

 Emilia sonchifolia, Eclipta erecta, Erigeron canadense, Datura 

 stramonium — are, in all probability, accidentally imported 

 species. 



Another class of plants calls for a few remarks in this place 

 — I mean those which follow or accompany man on his path of 

 settlement and in his cultivations, which cover the walls of 

 neglected or abandoned dwellings, and are, for the most part, 



