464 TRINIDAD. 



must now offer a few remarks on the appearance it takes under 

 the fostering care of man, and the modifying influence of cultiva- 

 tion. The plants which are grown directly or indirectly, for the 

 purpose of ministering to the sustenance and convenience of man, 

 have been fully noticed in the work to which the present paper 

 forms an appendix : they are therefore not to be considered here. 

 But a few plants formerly introduced into Trinidad have been 

 since allowed to degenerate into a wild state ; of these I shall first 

 speak. I must premise, however, that my data are not sufficiently 

 authentic, and, of course, this part of my sketch, at least in a few 

 instances, admits of doubts. 



The first family which claims our attention is that of grasses 

 either as having produced a few troublesome intruders, or as 

 having supplied useful individuals. The Guinea-grass (Panicum 

 Jumentonim) , 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 1 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, how- 

 ever, was not perhaps intentionally introduced or propagated in 

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



A few amarantaceae for instance, Amaranthus Spinosus were 

 probably of foreign extraction, and accidentally imported. Sesa- 

 mum Orientate grows wild here and there, but only in single 

 specimens. 



Among crassulaceaa, the Bryopliyllum Oalycinum deserves to 

 be mentioned. 



A few cucurbitaceae were also brought in, no doubt, origi- 

 nally, 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. 



