ARGOTTI BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE FLORA OF MALTA. 575 



example. (Fig. 165.) At each end of the long passage mentioned stands 

 a tine plant of Philodcndron pertusum, with its curiously perforated and 

 slashed leaves. Apropos of this, on an occasion when the corridor was 

 illuminated, and lamps were placed behind the Philodendrons, a guest 

 naively remarked to Mr. Harry, " What trouble it must have been to cut 

 out all the holes in the leaves to let the light through ! " 



Another remarkable plant is a brick-red coloured Bougainvillcea, the 

 only specimen in the island, which Mr. Harry received from Madagascar. 

 A fine Cycad, with its spreading foliage, around which Myrsipliyllum 

 asparagoides (a great favourite in Malta, and used in decorations of the 

 dinner-table) had grown, formed a pleasing combination. The borders 

 were bright with scarlet Salvias, Lavandula Spica, Polygala Chamcebuxus 

 just coming out ; while several large trees of white and rose-coloured 

 Almonds were in full bloom in January. 



On the limestone rocks are Cacti and Mesembryanthemums covering 



Fig. 165. — Fern ' Bomblu.' 



many square yards, including the indigenous " Ice-plant," M. crystallinum. 

 In one " wild " corner is a cluster of the tall stems of the native Arundo 

 Donax, a mass of Arum italicum, and the so-called English weed Oxalis 

 cernaa, with its bright yellow flowers, the trifoliolate leaves carpeting the 

 ground, while cultivated varieties of the native Narcissus Tazetta, now in 

 full bloom, were abundant. Palms are not abundant in Malta, though the 

 dwarf Fan Palm, Chamcerops humilis, is pretty frequent in gardens ; 

 while two lofty Dates furnished the name to Mr. Harry's house as " The 

 Palms." The Date is not generally cultivated, as it will not furnish 

 edible fruit on the island. 



One remarkable tree known as Zinzilla (Zizyphus) bears curiously 

 gouty twigs to its branches, and, although it bears plenty of fruit, Mr. 

 Harry said that it invariably falls prematurely if stones be not wedged in 

 at the forks of the branches ; when this is done the fruit ripens. He 



