■ Ht^ 



iv 



i€!. 



Photo from Sylvanus G. ]\Jorley 



A MATAPALO TRE;]J 



This tree when young grows around some other tree, clinging to it for support. As it 

 grows it gradually surrounds the tree supporting it, and finally ends by choking it to death; 

 hence the name matapalo, or "kill-tree." It is no uncommon sight in the vicinity of Quirigua 

 to see two entirely different foliages emerging from the same trunk. The matapalo illus- 

 trated here has succeeded in entirely surrounding the tree which originally gave it a helping 

 hand upward. 



346 



