NOTICES OF SOME REMARKABLE SPECIMENS OF CYCAS REVOLUTA 
173 
It is worthy of remark that, in China and Japan, the Sago Palm produces its plume-like crest of 
leaves hut once a year ; but, in Surinam, impelled by circumstances relating to its climatology, they 
frequently make two distinct growths during the same period. That this is mainly, if not solely, 
attributable to the presence of a greater amount of humidity in certain localities compared with others 
in that country, will be evident, when it is stated that plants of the Sago Palm, which grew in situa¬ 
tions becoming inundated during the “ rainy season,” were observed to have made two growths; 
whereas, others growing in more elevated, and consequently, much drier places, accomplished but one 
seasonal development of their frond-like foliage. Reasoning analogically, does not the knowledge of 
this fact supply us at once with a feasible explanation of the reason, why Cycadacem coming from 
Surinam, are not as readily, and as rapidly, induced to vegetate, as members of the same family 
imported from climes less hot and moist P 
We have already observed, that the magnificent Cycads which form the subject of these remarks, 
grew upon the site of what had once been a cemetery, adjacent to the town of Paramaribo. My 
Surinam informant enters somewhat further into a description of the situation in question. He 
describes it as “ a deserted, sunny spot, near to a marsh,” which regularly becomes so much swollen 
during the primary half of the “ rainy season,” as to overflow to some distance, the subjacent territory; 
but partly in consequence of the great heat inducing a rapid evaporation, and partly owing to the 
porosity and thirstiness of the soil, occasioned by the plentiful presence of sand, the inundation quickly 
subsides, or rather disappears. Polypodium aureum grew luxuriantly, but gracefully, upon the trunks 
of the Sago Palms ; luxuriant grasses, and Cyperacem clothed the spongy ground around them ; close 
at hand were various Malpighias and Melastomaceae ; also several Polygonacem, as Coccoloba guaya- 
nensis, &c., the tout ensemble composing a pretty exotic wilderness of shrubs, and herbaceous plants, 
festooned with white, rose-coloured, and golden Ipomceas, and a diversity of Convolvulacese. Far away 
in the background, uprose the slender stems of the royal Oreodoxa, whose long fronds contrasted 
remarkably with the ample fans of Mauritia flexuosa standing isolated here and there. In this direc¬ 
tion a primeval forest surrounded the entire scene. “ Turning myself,” says Mr. Itegel, “ to the oppo¬ 
site side, before me lay the marsh diversified with Limnocharis Humboldtii, grasses of different kinds 
