170 ZAMBEZIAN FLORA 



greenery should be duly appreciated by passers-by. 

 The dates, unfortunately, are quite inferior, and 

 only possible to the omniverous native. 



The number of lovely flowering trees and shrubs 

 is very large, and, together with the different 

 members of what may be called the grotesque 

 families, form a class of wide interest. Let us 

 imagine it is early December in the plains ; the 

 heat is oppressive, and the air humid from the 

 exhalations which the sun's rays are drawing from 

 the rain-sodden ground. You perspire at every pore, 

 and there seems no limit to the amount you could 

 drink if you once gave way to the hourly increasing 

 temptation to commence. There is a soft sweet- 

 ness in the atmosphere, the subtle mingling of the 

 scents of many flowers. Above your head the sus- 

 tained hum of scores of tiny brown bees tells of 

 their activity among the sickly smelling blooms 

 of a gayly coloured Baphia. A brilliantly glossy 

 Ficus, I think the F. cor data, with clear, dark 

 green foliage, throws into relief at its foot a bright, 

 almost scarlet Desmodium, displaying a corolla so 

 brilliant against the cool greenery of its sheltering 

 neighbour that one almost involuntarily winks at 

 the piquancy of the contrast. Farther on A Ihizzias, 

 that well-known feathery-foliaged shade tree, are 

 growing in close proximity to a group of Acacias, 

 displaying masses of fragrant mustard-coloured 

 flowers, shaped almost exactly like the tiny balls of 

 velvety plush used as an edging for winter drawing- 

 room curtains. Trachylohiums occur at many 

 points, whilst several papilionaceous trees are 

 covered with a perfect blaze of yellow on the one 



