XXX RHIZOPHORA 443 



interest in connection with the origin of the seedless Selala. They 

 very rarely occur mingled together, but grow gregariously in con- 

 tiguous colonies ; and not uncommonly all three may occur on the 

 same line of coast within a distance of a few hundred yards. The 

 colonies pass into each other without a break, and there is no fixed 

 rule of association. Whilst on the south side of Vanua Levu the 

 Selala is generally associated with the American Rhizophora, on 

 the north side it is usually in touch with the Asiatic species. In 

 other localities all three occur in contiguous colonies. The Selala 

 colony may be exposed on the line of a river-bank or along the 

 sea-coast, or it may lie in the heart of an extensive mangrove tract. 

 The most extensive mangrove region in Fiji, that of the Rewa delta, 

 is in great part occupied by Rhizophora mangle ; but all three forms 

 grow together in the eastern part of the delta ; and here, strangely 

 enough, as at Daku, the Selala may grow sporadically, and all three 

 may grow mixed together with their branches intercrossing. 



The Characters of the Selala or Seedless Rhizophora compared 

 with those of the American Mangrove {R. m.angle) and the 

 Asiatic Mangrove {R. mucronata). 



The three kinds of Rhizophora, when seen at the same time 

 along a tract of coast, may be readily distinguished by the different 

 shades of green of their foliage, that of Selala being dark green, 

 that of Rhizophora mucronata light green, and that of Rhizophora 

 mangle intermediate in shade. The Selala is usually the tallest of 

 the three, and attains a height of from 20 to 30 feet or even 

 40 feet and over, the aerial roots dropped from the higher branches 

 giving it a characteristic aspect. Rhizophora mangle is generally 

 the shortest, and at the coast is from 10 to 12 feet high ; but where 

 the mangrove vegetation is most luxuriant, as in the great swamps 

 in the interior of the Rewa delta, it forms tall trees as much as 

 40 feet in height, displaying the aerial roots hanging from the 

 higher branches. Rhizophora mucronata is, as a rule, intermediate 

 in height, and is distinguished by its stout, reddish trunk and 

 reddish aerial roots. 



The trunks of Selala are often in an inclined position and 

 supported entirely by the trestle-like aerial roots, the lower end 

 raised some 5 or 6 feet above the ground with the rest of the 

 trunk inclined upwards. They then look like gigantic walking- 

 stick insects. The same habit may be sometimes observed with 

 the larger trees of Rhizophora mucronata, and in fact all three may 



