96 FLOWERING PLANTS AND TREES. 



European skill and capital, be so largely grown as to become 

 one of the most valuable exports. 



For the sustenance of the different species of silkworms 

 the leaves of the mulberry-tree are used to some extent ; but 

 in the central portions of the island anotlier tree is largely 

 used for this purpose. This is the tapla, a small tree of 

 which there are extensive plantations. The fruit, which is 

 edible, is a long green pod containing a sweetish pulp. 



The lichens growing on the bare rocks and hills of the 

 treeless central provinces have not yet been collected in any 

 complete manner, but from a few specimens obtamed by the 

 late Mrs. Pool, the Eev. J. M. Crombie remarks : " Jud'dnf? 

 from its climate and situation, there can be no doubt that 

 Madagascar possesses a very rich and extensive lichen flora. 

 Unfortunately, however, it is still in this respect almost 

 entirely a terra incognita, nor does the present small collec- 

 tion throw much light upon its lichen treasures, though it 

 affords some indications that these are both valuable and 

 varied." '"" 



Flowering Plants and Trees. — In speaking of Madagascar, 

 as well as of most tropical countries, it is frequently re- 

 marked, " Of course there are very magnificent flowers there." 

 It is a common mistake to suppose that in the matter of 

 wild flowers the tropics are much richer than the temperate 

 zones. But, as has been well shown by Mr. Alfred Wallace 

 in his work on The Malay Archipelago (vol. i. 127, 128 ; ii. 

 294-298), the reverse is the case; and although there are, it 

 is true, many beautiful flowers, they do not occur in great 

 numbers, nor are they found in such masses as to give a 

 character to the scenery. There is, for instance, nothing 

 comparable to the effect of gorse, or heather, or clover, or 

 even of the buttercups and daisies of an English meadow. 

 It should be observed, however, that this remark applies 

 chiefly to flowers growing on the ground ; for in the forest 



* Jour. Linn. Soc.,Bot., vol. xv. ISTo. 86, pp. 409, 410. A list of the fifteen 

 species is given, from which it appears that the lichens belong to the following 

 six genera : — Thserophoron (i), Usnea (3, a species of Usnea, TJ. xanthophaga, is 

 found in the Campbell Islands), Parmelia (i), Stictina (7), Ricasolia (this has 

 special interest as being hitherto only known as inhabiting equinoctial America), 

 and Physcia (2). 



