Liberia *- 



these, mention has already been made of the celebrated 

 Funtumia elastica, the rubber tree of Lagos. This is one 

 of the tallest trees of the African forest. Mr. Sim, who dis- 

 covered it growing in the magnificent Nidi forest (Sino 

 County, near the Satro Mountains), said that it seemed to tower 

 to an altitude of at least two hundred feet. The brilliant 

 sulphur-yellow flowers of Allamanaa grow in every Liberian 

 garden on the coast, but this splendid shrub is really a native 

 of America. An important plant of the same order (Apocynace^e) 

 is Strophanthus gratus^ a climbing shrub with magnificent tubular 

 flowers, white or blush-colour, with a purple tinge in the interior 

 of the corolla. This Strophanthus produces smooth seeds which 

 are of considerable value, as they yield the celebrated medicine 

 much employed in treating diseases of the heart. The potency 

 of these Strophanlhus seeds has long been known to natives 

 of Africa, who have used them for concocting various poisons. 



A handsome example of the Bignoniacetf is Newbouldia 

 l<evtSy a low tree or bushy shrub which grows in the vicinity 

 of Monrovia and other coast settlements, with sprays of 

 bright pink flowers offering a superficial resemblance to a fox- 

 glove. Amongst the Acanthace<e is 'Thunbergia alata, a creeping 

 plant with large flowers, the calyx of which is a deep red, 

 while the short petals or lobes are yellow or white. The 

 Thunbergias are a very widespread genus in Africa, and nearly 

 always produce showy or beautiful flowers, especially in the 

 park country outside the forest. Here their tints are orange, 

 golden-brown, pale yellow, or deep blue-purple. The climbing 

 Thunbergia of Liberia might be worth cultivation. Another 

 striking example of this order is Briliantesia lamium^ a plant 

 with bunches of large blue, mauve, or lavender flowers. 

 The Acanthus montanus is also a handsome flowering shrub, 

 with spiky clusters of closely packed pink flowers, each with 



540 



