FERNS m THE DELL, 
[Photo by Mrs. I. H. Burkill. 
THE DELL 
This delightful corner of the Gardens has been con- 
structed around the stream which feeds the Lake, The 
stream enters the Gardens through a small rectangular 
pool^ passes under a rockery into a larger irregular pool 
and by a channel opens into the Lake. The rockeries 
are allotted to different groups of plants ; one is largely 
covered with Begonias, another with Aroids and a third 
with Acanths. 
A wall in the middle is covered with Ficus repens. At 
its end is the fern Cibotium Barometz^ the silky hairs of 
which are used for staunching a flow of blood. 
Sanchezia nobilis may be seen here. It is one of the 
American plants which are fertilised by humming birds. 
In Singapore no suitable flower-visitors exist to pollinate 
it ; the Malayan Sun-bird having too short a bill. 
Several of the trees in the Dell have an interest of 
their own. The tree of Ficus polysyce^ close to the water, 
is covered twice a year with a surprisingly big crop of 
green figs, which neither the monkeys nor the squirrels 
will eat, and which, dropping off, completely cover the 
ground to the depth of several inches ; and out of this 
abundance there come only one or two seedlings — an 
illustration of the frequent prodigality of Nature in her 
attempts at reproduction. The fruits are borne on the 
trunk and thicker branches, as is not uncommon in the 
tropics, the phenomenon being called cauliflory, Ravenala 
guianensis and Metroxylon Rumphii grow close to the 
water. This Ravenala is interesting as coming from the 
New World, whereas the only other species, which has 
already been mentioned, comes from Madagascar. In the 
centre of the Dell, the small tree with willow-like leaves is 
Eleeocarpus salicifolius. 
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