Wild Flowers of Georgetown. 



the row of trees at the back of the new band-stand, whose 

 leaves end in long whip-like lashes holding bv numerous 

 pairs of recurved hooks. But a good naiive type among 

 our wild-flowers is furnished bv the grey and yellow nicker 

 trees or chick-stone trees (Guilandina Bonduc and 

 Bondacella) , of which climbing specimens may be found 

 half-way up the avenue, as well as near the palm just 

 mentioned ; they are easily distinguished by their large 

 twice-pinnate leaves armed with many curved prickles 

 on the ribs and stalks, which catch at so many angles 

 and hold with such tenacity that it would be difficult to 

 extricate oneself if fairly caught. Hence these bushes 

 used to be planted on the sides of entrenchments in 

 Barbados as an additional defence.* 



On the oronoque next below the wooden side-bridge 

 leading to the south lakes may be found a fine specimen 

 of one of the cooper-trees, satirically called " Scotch 

 attorneys," which climb by throwing out pairs of roots 

 at intervals, clasping the supporting tree-like hoops upon 

 a cask. At first they are soft and pliant, but gradually 

 become rigid and woody, and often ultimately strangle 

 their helpless host. The kind before us is the star-of- 

 night or balsam i\g (Clusea rosea), with very handsome 

 large rosy white blossoms with a curious yellow centre- 

 piece. The strangling roots are not so prominent in this 

 specimen as they would have been if it had chosen a 

 younger tree, still growing, as its host. 



At the foot of these oronoques in the avenue may be 

 found several examples of the simplest and most imper- 



* Hughes' Natural History of Barbados, 1750. Fur this and other 

 curious old books, from which many fafts have been gleaned, 1 am In- 

 debted to N. Darnell Davis, Esq. 



TT 2 



