ENORMOUS CBEEPEBS 33 



aiice of a large mass of dark-green foliage, and on land- 

 ing I found that there were two separate plants growing 

 just above the high-level water mark of the river, and 

 in such a position tliat the bases of the trunks would 

 ])e submerged during floods. These plants formed a 

 truly remarkable sight, the stems being much larger 

 round than a man's body, and growing in a slanting 

 direction; l)ranches are thrown out all round, and creep 

 over a clump of bamboos which support them from the 

 ground, some of the branches reaching to a height of over 

 sixty feet from the surface. They cover a considerable 

 area — not less, in my estimation, than half an acre each. 

 After a diligent search I found a few seeds among the 

 dead leaves on the ground, and one seed pod. As this 

 was not its flowering season, I paid another visit when 

 it was in bloom, and found the blossoms were papilio- 

 naceous, about the size round of a florin, and produced 

 in bunches about a foot long from the main stem and 

 principal branches. They were of a deep maroon 

 colour and waxy appearance, the interior being covered 

 with stiff" hairs, and are much sought after by hymenop- 

 terous insects ; so much so, indeed, that their buzzing is 

 almost sufficiently loud to drown ordinary conversation 

 beneath. The seeds are the size of large broad beans, 

 and are contained in pods about six inches long. This 

 remarkable plant is evergreen, and the branches are 



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