EDIBLE ^RUIT. 319 



gular buttresses of projecting wood. Ferns, orchids, and 

 wax-flowers frequently take up their abode on the soft 

 spongy bark. The roots of old trees appear above the 

 ground somewhat like those of the bald cypress of 

 North America (Taxodium distichum, Rich.). Thousands 

 of seedlings are continually springing up around the old 

 plants, and nothing, save the dense shade of their pa- 

 rents, and the close proximity in which they grow to 

 each other, exercise a check upon their engrossing all 

 the adjacent ground. If the fruit of the Ivi is com- 

 pared with the chestnut, that of the Tavola (Terminalia 

 Catappa, Linn.) may be likened to the almond, both in 

 shape and whiteness, though not in taste the Tavola 

 having none of the flavour imparted by the presence of 

 the essential oil of almonds ; hence the name of " Fijian 

 almonds, 1 ' given by the white settlers, must be received 

 cum grano salis. The natives are extremely fond of 

 the Tavola as a tree, and frequently plant it around 

 their houses and public buildings. The branches, ar- 

 ranged in whorls, somewhat like those of pines, though 

 perhaps not quite so regular, have a horizontal ten- 

 dency, upon which the natives improve by placing 

 weights upon them. The large obovate leaves are de- 

 ciduous, and before falling off assume a variety of tints, 

 brown, red, yellow, and scarlet, such as one is wont 

 to behold in a North American forest before the ap- 

 proach of winter. The flowers are white and small ; the 

 wood hard and applicable to a variety of purposes. A 

 close ally of the Tavola is the Tivi (Terminalia Moluc- 

 cana. Lam.), a timber- tree, always growing on the sea- 

 beach, and bearing seeds sometimes eaten by children. 



