63 



slices, and sprinkling them with slacked Ifme, and 

 then wrapping them in leaves of some species of pep- 

 per, which they masticate with the nut. The wood 

 is used in building the habitations of the natives. In 

 America, the trunks of the trees are used as water 

 pipes, for which purpose they are admirably adapted, 

 from the hardness and durability of the wood. 



The Passion Flower, climbing the tree, is of the 

 same species as the one already described with the 

 Bannana. 



Continuing to the right, is Tliea Virides (the Green 

 Tea Plant) which is now pretty generally cultivated 

 in most conservatories and green-houses in this king- 

 dom. 



Growing from behind the trunk of the large tree 

 in the corner, is the Mimosa Scnndens, Climbing Mi- 

 mosa. The immense pods or seed vessels are hang- 

 ing pendant from a small branch; in one of the small 

 windows fronting the sea view, a pod is placed, 

 which serves to shew the exact form : it is not a 

 large specimen, as they are frequently met with full 

 four feet in length. 



From the last-mentioned window is seen, Rhizo^ 

 phora Gi/mnorhiza the Mangrove or Oyster Tree. 

 This is a native of the East Indies, where it attains 

 the height often or twelve feet; it affects moist situa- 

 tions, generally within the influx of the sea, where 

 the tide can wash its stem. There is something ex- 

 ceedingly curious in the manner which nature has 

 chosen to conduct the seed of the Mangrove to the 

 earth ; it is a remarkable deviation from the general 

 rule, and is simply thus : — The fruit produces a 

 single seed, inclosed in an oblong capsule, which, 

 when ripe, begins to germinate without falling from 

 the tree. A little radicle makes its appearance from 

 12 



