621 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 209 
In 1676 complaint was made that not only natives, but strangers, 
were in the habit of cutting down the trees and even digging up the 
roots for this purpose, thus threatening its extermination. 
Therefore a law was passed prohibiting digging up the roots and 
requiring that a stump at least two feet high should be left in every 
case (doubtless for sprouting). The penalty was a fine of 10 shillings 
for every root destroyed. 
In a proclamation by the governor, 1679, the use of the Button- 
wood Tree for fuel was prohibited. 
At present, this is called Button-tree, and sometimes “ Bark,” and 
« Alder.” Governor Lefroy thought it identical with the Button- 
wood Tree of the early settlers. It is common, near the shores in 
many places. It is also found in Florida, Brazil, and the West 
Indies; also on the coast of Africa. 
A combretaceous tree, with lanceolate or elliptical, alternate leayes, 
often downy at base. Flowers in small, round pedunculate heads, 
small, apetalous, calyx tube not longer than the ovary; limb five- 
lobed ; stamens five or six. Achenia imbricated, scale-like, rounded, 
concave and keeled above, convex below. 
Mangrove. (Rhizophora mangle L.) 
Pirate LXVIII. Ficure 2. Puate LXXIV. Ficure 1. 
The true mangrove forms dense thickets in the upper parts of 
many shallow bays and coves, but they appear to be much less 
extensive than formerly, in most cases. Probably the more accessi- 
ble trees have been cut for fuel. 
These trees are profusely branched, with thick evergreen foliage ; 
they mostly, grow 15 to 20 feet high, and often stand in sea water 
two or three feet deep, sending down a profusion of large zrial 
roots, from the lower branches, and from the lower part of the trunk. 
These serve to entangle floating leaves, branches, seaweeds, and mud, 
and afford shelter to the handsome and active mangrove crabs, 
which burrow their holes among the roots, and ascend the trees with 
great agility when pursued. Several species of marine mollusks 
attach themselves to these serial or half submerged roots, including 
the bivalve, Perna, and several spiral shells, such as Littorina, ete. 
One of the largest mangrove swamps is at the upper end of 
Hungry Bay; others may be seen at Mangrove Bay ; Spanish Point ; 
Tucker’s Town lagoon ; Walsingham Bay, ete. 
This tree is here smaller and far less luxuriant than on the coasts 
of Florida and Central America, where it forms vast seaside 
