8S WONDERS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS. 
many trailing stalks, extending six or eight feet every 
way, and patting forth at each joint roots which in a 
genial climate grow to be very large tubei-s, so that from 
a single plant forty or fifty large roots are proctuced. 
The leaves are angular and stand on long petioles, the 
flowers are pnrple. The batata is pi-opagated by laying 
down the young shoots in the spring ; indeed in its native 
climate it multiplies almost spontaneously, for if the 
branches of roots that have been pulled np are Eoffered to 
remain on the ground, and a shower of rain falls soon 
after, their vegetation will recommence. 
Arrowroot is chiefly obtained from two different plants 
—the Marantha arundinacea and the Tacca pinnatifida. 
The former, a native of South America, is an herbaceous 
perennial, and is propagated by parting the roots. It 
rises to the height of two or three feet, has broad pointed 
leaves, and is crowned by a spike of small white tlowera. 
It is much cultivated, both for domestic use and for 
exportation, in the West Indies, and in some parts of 
Hindostan. The arrowroot is obtained by first pounding 
the long stalky roots in a large wooden mortar, and pour- 
ing a quantity of water over them. After the whole has 
been agitated for some time, the starch, separated from 
the fibres, collects at the bottom of the vessel, and, 
having been cleansed by repeated washing, is dried in 
the sun. 
The Tacca pinnatifida, likewise an herbaceous plant 
with pinnated leaves, an umbelliform blossom, and large 
potato-like roots, is scattered over most of the South Sea 
Islands. It is not cultivated in the Hawaiian group, but 
found growing wild in abundance in the more elevated 
districts, where it is satisfied with the most meagre soil, 
and sprouts forth among the lava blocks of those volcanic 
islands. Arrowroot is prepared from this plant in the 
same manner as from the West Indian Marantha, bat, as 
the improvident Polynesians only think of digging it out 
of the earth, and never give themselves the trouble of 
