190 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



branches, clothed with feathery foliage, which is sometimes 

 as finely cut as some of the Perns, have a light and beau- 

 tiful effect. There is also a tribe of trees called Meliacea 

 to be often met with, one of which is the Mahogany-tree 

 (Swietenia), which form a great contrast to the Palms by 

 their European, Beech-like style of growth. There is too a 

 tribe called Anonas, which are nearly allied to the Magno- 

 lia ; and the great flapping leaves of the Bananas and Plan- 

 tains we shall see everywhere, as well as another family 

 amongst the lower growing plants, something like Bananas 

 on a small scale, called Sciteminea, which, as was mentioned 

 before, includes Ginger and Turmeric. 



There is a very beautiful tribe, common in the Tropical 

 Zone like those above named, though more properly belong- 

 ing to the very hottest regions, which has precisely the 

 same character (only on an immensely larger scale) as oar 

 Wild Arum, or " Lords and Ladies," as it is called ; this is 

 the Pothos tribe. In the Potkos the spathe is composed of 

 a large green leaf, rolled together like a horn, inclosing a 

 spadix covered with large, shining, whitish flowers. These 

 plants are sometimes parasitical, but not always ; at one 

 time growing in great masses together on the earth, so as 

 to influence the character of vegetation ; and at others fixing 



