208 REVIEWS — THREE VISITS TO MADAGASCAR, 



allow tlie delicate leaf to be raised by tbe band to tbe surface of tbe 

 water without injury." 



It is interesting to learn that tbis wonder of tbe vegetable creation 

 has been safely conveyed to Europe by Mr. Ellis, and living plants 

 placed by bim at Kew, Cbiswick, Eegent's Park, and tbe Crystal 

 Palace, so that it will become a familiar object to. our countrymen. 

 A leaf tbat constitutes only a frame-work to regular open spaces, 

 being formed like a window with small panes, does at first astonish 

 us by its novelty, but when we are informed tbat it grows entirely 

 under water, reflection shows it to be still within tbe usual order 

 of nature, and what might have been anticipated from consideration 

 of the circumstances. The leaf is constructed somewhat like the lily 

 of the valley, with straight veins meeting by a gentle curvature in 

 the apex, and these regularly crossed by smaller veins at nearly equal 

 distances. Did it grow in the air the inter-spaces would be filled 

 with cellular tissue, and covered with epidermis. "Water tends to 

 prevent this growth, and thus leaves tbe veins like a skeleton leaf. 

 "Whoever has examined the common water crowfoot has seen the 

 same phenomena, only there some leaves are on or above the surface 

 of tbe water, which are like those of other plants, while those under- 

 neath, though filamentous, have not the same regular disposition on 

 the meeting together of the fibres which belong to the peculiar vena- 

 tion of the plant. Ouvirandra is constantly referred to as an example 

 of what is called a fenestrate, window-frame leaf, but the description 

 of it in its native site is peculiarly interesting. 



Amidst many botanical notices of an attractive character, and 

 sbowing Mr. Ellis's love of nature and habit of correct observation, 

 we will select one other — ^his description of 



THE traveller's TREE. 



" This tree, Urania speciosa, is altogether one of the most remark- 

 able tbat has been discovered in Madagascar. And the extent to 

 which it prevails may be inferred from its native name, ravinala, by 

 which it was designated by Sonnerat, its discoverer. Eavinala is 

 literally, leaf of the forest, as if it was the leaf by which the forest 

 was characterized, which is the fact where it abounds, though in many 

 parts it is not met with at all. The tree rises from the ground with 

 a thick succulent stem like that of the plantain, or the larger species 

 of Strelitzia, to both of which it bears a strong resemblance. It sends 



