178 



VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. 



I found one decayed tree lying on the ground almost over- 

 grown with grass and ferns, on the rotten trunk of which 

 the A. sesquipedale was growing most luxuriantly. The roots 

 which had penetrated the soft trunk of this dead tree were 

 white and fleshy, while the leaves were longer and compara- 



Frora a photograph by W. Elli3. 



ANQRMCVM SESQUIPEDALE AND NATIVE FEENS. 



tively soft and green. There were neither flowers nor 

 flower-stalks on any of the plants growing in the rich vege- 

 table mould furnished by this old dead tree. 



The habits of the superbum were quite different. Of 

 these the fleshy roots formed a sort of network at the base 

 of the bulb. During the journey I occasionally noticed both 



