MANGROVES. 



25 



epiphytes of this island very few phanerogamic plants. In conclusion, we must 

 cast a glance at the beautiful Mpa palm, which, at least above the ground, never 

 exhibits a trunk.* The few young plants can give only a poor conception of the 

 stately appearance of the fully grown ones occupying exclusively entire districts. 

 The only fully developed specimen, which space would permit me to introduce, 

 exhibits the peculiar formation of the spadix, so closely resembling that of most 

 species of Pandanus ; it is quite woody, and of a rusty-brown colour, whilst the 

 flowers, appearing simultaneously, incline towards a reddish-yellow tinge (14 | 15 1). 



* According to Teysmann (Bonplandia, vii. p. roots, continually forming as the trunk increases in 



122) the trunk, about a foot thick, creeps horizon- length, provide for the general nourishment. This, 



tally in the mud, throws out numerous little roots, with the exception of the branching, is exactly the 



and becomes divided into several branches, whilst its growth I observed in Ela'iis melanococca, Gsertn., 



lower extremity gradually decays and becomes ex- and Phytelephas macrocarpa, E. etPav. in Darien. — 



posed, without injury to the plant as a whole ; new Berthold Seemann. 



