FLOWERING PLANTS. 97 



there are many trees whicli, when in flower, present grand 

 masses of colour, being covered with scarlet, yellow, crimson, 

 or purple bloom, No recent traveller has given more atten- 

 tion to the floral wealth of Madagascar, or described it with 

 so much enthusiasm, as the late Eev! W. Ellis, who was an 

 accomplished botanist, as well as an earnest missionary. 

 Among the flowering plants Mr. Ellis mentions as seen on 

 the eastern coast are species of acacia, solanum, vinca or 

 CatJiaranthus roseus, gardenia, and many kinds of hibiscus ; 

 one of these latter {H. tiliaceus) grows to a great size, 

 straggling over a considerable space, and covered with large 

 yellow and claret- coloured blossoms. The aleurites or candle- 

 nut, common in Polynesia, is also seen on that coast, and 

 also trees of large and shining foliage, like the magnolia, 

 and large - leaved betonicas. Amongst Madagascar trees 

 which have become naturalised in Mauritius, and " con- 

 spicuous beyond all the rest, is the stately and gorgeous 

 Foinciana regia, compact-growing and regular in form, bat 

 retaining something of the acacia habit, rising sometimes to 

 the height of forty or fifty feet, and between the months 

 of December and April presenting amidst its delicate pea- 

 green pinnated leaves one vast pyramid of bunches of bright, 

 dazzling scarlet flowers. Seen sometimes over the tops of 

 the houses, and at others in an open space standing forth 

 in truly regal splendour, this is certainly one of the most 

 magnificent of trees. Its common name is ' mille fleurs,' or 

 ' flamboyant.' The Poinciana, and the large beautifully yellow- 

 flowering Colvillia, as well as some fine and fragrant species 

 of Dombeya, and other kinds, were introduced from Mada- 

 gascar by M. Bojer, a German naturalist, in 1824."'" A 

 magnificent creeping-plant {Crypta stygia), with masses of 

 purple flowers, has been introduced into the capital, as well 

 as into Mauritius. Other flowering plants noticed by Mr. 

 Ellis are heaths, species of petunias, gentians {Tacliiademus 

 carinatus, and T. medinilla), and others resembling Stephanotis, 

 vanilla {Dendrobium), and Indian shot (Canna indica). 



Another tree conspicuous for its beauty when in flower is 

 the AstrapcEa Wallichii or viscosa. The Malagasy name for it 

 * Three Visits to Madagascar, pp. 41, 57. 



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