THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 101 



to the Chinese, but quite common also among our 

 negroes. The young shoots, which grow in bunches 

 at the roots of the bamboos the product of the under- 

 ground germ grow with such amazing rapidity that 

 they may be literally said to be seen growing. In 

 one day they obtain the height of several feet, 

 and with the microscope,. their development can be 

 easily watched. But the most remarkable feature 

 about the bamboo is their blossoming. With all this 

 marvellous rapidity of growth they bloom only twice 

 in a century, the flower appearing at the end of fifty 

 years. Like other grasses, they die after having borne 

 seed. 



THE BAOBAB. 



This plant of monstrous size, the most colossal and 

 the most ancient vegetable monument on earth, has 

 round, woolly leaves, which consist of from three to 

 seven leaflets radiating from a common centre and 

 giving them somewhat the appearance of a hand; and 

 magnificent white flowers. It is an enormous tree, 

 holding among plants the place that the elephant 

 holds among animals a hoary witness of the last 

 changes which the earth has undergone and of del- 

 uges that have buried beneath their waves the pro- 

 ductions of early ages. Several baobabs that have 

 been measured were found to be from 70 to 77 feet 

 in circumference. From its branches hang at times 

 colossal nests, three feet in length, and resembling 

 large oval baskets open at the bottom and looking 

 from a distance like so many signal flags. The birds 



