CHAPTER XXX 



the viviparous mangroves of fiji 

 Rhizophora and Bruguiera 



Rhizophora. — Represented by Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora mangle, and 

 the Selala, a seedless intermediate form. — Their mode of association and 

 characters. — The relation of the Selala. — Polyembryony. — The history of 

 the plant between the fertilisation of the ovule and the detachment of the 

 seedling. — Absence of a rest period. — Mode of detachment of the seedling. 

 Capacity for dispersal by the currents. — Bruguiera. — The mode of dis- 

 persal. — Peculiar method of fertilisation. — Length of period between 

 fertilisation and the detachment of the seedling. — Mode of detachment of 

 the seedling. — Summary. 



Between 1897 and 1899 I made numerous observations on the 

 Fijian species of Rhizophora and Bruguiera (mostly around the 

 coasts of Vanua Levu and in the Rewa delta) ; and these were 

 supplemented in the early part of 1904 by observations on the first- 

 named genus in Ecuador. I did not make any collections in Fiji 

 until Prof Schimper asked me to obtain specimens ; and a fair- 

 sized collection containing specimens dried, and preserved in spirit, 

 was sent to him. His illness and death shortly followed, and I 

 lost the advantage of his great experience in these matters. In a 

 letter written to me in 1898 he expressed the hope that I would 

 publish my notes on the mangroves of Fiji. Years have since 

 passed by, and as I read again his words of encouragement I take 

 up once more the interrupted task. 



Rhizophora 



Of the three species of this genus, two of them, Rhizophora 

 mucronata and R. conjugata, are Asiatic and are unknown in 



