44 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. ii. 



branching or forked flower is curious ; but the structure of the 

 leaf is peculiarly so, and seems like a living fibrous skeleton 

 rather than an entire leaf. The longitudinal fibres extend in 

 curved lines along its entire length, and are united by thread- 

 like fibres or veins, crossing them at right angles from side to 

 side, at a short distance from each other. The whole leaf 

 looks as if composed of fine tendrils, wrought after a most 

 regular pattern, so as to resemble a piece of bright green lace 

 or open needlework. Each leaf rises from the crown on the 

 root like a short delicate-looking pale green or yellow fibre, 

 gradually unfolding its feathery-looking sides, and increas- 

 ing its size as it spreads beneath the water. The leaves in 

 their several stages of growth pass through almost every gra- 

 dation of colour, from a pale yellow to a dark olive green, 

 becoming brown or even black before they finally decay ; air 

 bubbles of considerable size frequently appearing under the 

 full-formed and healthy leaves. It is scarcely possible to ima- 

 gine any object of the kind more attractive and beautiful than 

 a full-grown specimen of this plant, with its dark green leaves 

 forming the limit of a circle two or three feet in diameter, and 

 in the transparent water within that circle presenting leaves in 

 every stage of development, both as to colour and size. Nor 

 is it the least curious to notice that these slender and fragile 

 structures, apparently not more substantial than the gossamer 

 and flexible as a feather, still possess a tenacity and wiriness 

 which allow tlie delicate leaf to be raised by the hand to the 

 surface of the water without injury. 



I succeeded in conveying this plant safely to Mauritius, 

 where it was preserved for more than a year, and seemed to 

 thrive best in running water at a temperature of about 74°. I 

 was happy to present specimens of it to M. Bojer, and to Mr. 

 Duncan, the director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Pam- 

 plemouses. At the Cape of Grood Hope Mr. M'^Gibbon kindly 

 took charge of it during my absence on a journey of nearly 



