AN EXCURSION TO OBYDOS 83 
(Cyphomandra) bearing abundance of pure waxy 
white flowers; and a Melastome [Tococa scabrius- 
mla) notable for a bladdery dilatation of the leaf- 
stalk, in which active stinging ants take up their 
abode. The slender bramble-like stems of Acacia 
paniculata climbed to the tops of the trees, and 
all the way up put forth their panicles of minute 
cream - coloured flowers gathered into globose 
heads. 
Near the lake the ground was marshy — evi- 
dently in the rainy season laid under water — and 
the vegetation was peculiar. Very abundant was 
a low bushy Euphorbiaceous tree (Peridium), which 
diffused a strong scent of honey from its numerous 
red flowers, that consisted each of a pair of hemi- 
spherical cups (like a bullet- mould) enclosing the 
minute florets. Other trees of humble growth 
were species of Mayna, Burdachia, Cybianthus, 
etc. The lake itself was fringed with sedges, 
chiefly species of Hypolytrum, quite like our 
Carices in habit, and in the spikes of beaked 
fruits ; and with a pretty fern [Nepkrodmm Serra) 
very like the Lastrcea Oreopteris of our moors. On 
its waters floated Salvinia hispida^ which is also 
a fern (in the widest acceptation of that term), but 
from its ovato-reniform olive-coloured leaves looks 
quite alien to that family; besides a Water-lily 
{Nympkcsa Salzmanni) rather like our English 
species, but not near so pretty. 
F^rom the opposite shore of the lake rose the 
Serra d' Escamas, clad with lofty trees, and with 
a dense undergrowth among which I found some 
fine flowering shrubs. 
The weather continued to be much broken, so 
