272 



BLUEFIELDS. 



tuosum). When young, it is covered with a green 

 bark ; the trunk commonly swells out in the middle, 

 and is studded as well as the branches with great tri- 

 angular spines, some of them an inch in diameter. 

 But by the time the tree has attained adult age its 

 appearance is very different : the bark is of a hoarf 

 grey hue, sometimes almost white ; the trianguUr 

 spines disappear from the bole, and are found only 

 on the upper surfaces of the limbs ; the ventricoie 

 form of the trunk is generally lost, and, what gi\es 

 this tree a very remarkable aspect, the basal part of 

 the stem sends out vast spurs radiating in all diisc- 

 tions and extending to a great distance. Their ^t- 

 line is very irregular, but their usual form is that of 

 perpendicular walls of timber, often not more iian 

 six inches thick, and not commonly exceeding a t)ot, 

 retaining an even thickness in all parts, but frcqueitly 



deduced from those organs : the colour, however, is very marked a 

 peculiar. This specimen also was obtained at Content, in January. 



Admeasurements of the above Four Species. 



