

BOTANY. 383 



the young tree a twisted appearance, whence its trivial 

 name. 



The leaves of the second species are similar in shape 

 to those last described; but have a more delicate 

 texture, are more inclined to a drooping position, and 

 have no spines on their margins. 



The flowers of both kinds are dioecious, each sex 

 being borne on a distinct tree. The male fructification 

 is a spadix, about one foot in length, and alternately 

 branched, each branch being covered with yellow 

 stamens, loaded with a mealy pollen, which is scattered 

 in the air by the slightest agitation. One stamen 

 forms the perfect male flower, there being no corolla. 

 A long membranous sheath invests each cluster of 

 stamens, and, as well as the latter, emits a powerful 

 fragrant odour. The female fructification is a globular 

 spadix, covered with prominent germens, each of which 

 bears a short pistil on its summit. The perfect fruit 

 has the form of the female spadix, and is composed of 

 an aggregation of one-seeded drupes ; it has, when 

 ripe, a red-yellow colour, and a faint but agreeable 

 odour. 



It is worthy of remark, that the aged Screw Pine 

 sends down ligneous props, or fulcra, from the under 

 surface of its branches, like the Banian-tree. These 

 vicarious growths do not, however, issue in the form 

 of fibrous roots, (as they do from the Banian,) but in- 

 variably as solid conical stems, which descend to the 

 ground in this form and root themselves in the soil. 

 Some similar growths emerge also from the trunk of 

 the tree, several feet above the earth; and whether 

 they ultimately supersede the function of the original 



