30 MADAGASCAR 
anywhere upon the Earth. This splendid exuberance, 
especially such as is developed in the neighbourhood ot 
the streams, cannot but make an enduring and powerful 
impression on any one who sees it for the first time. 
The flora of the coast is somewhat lacking in the peculiar 
characteristics of Madagascar; it has the cosmopolitan 
Madagascan Screw Palm (Pandanus). 
tropical character that may be seen anywhere from 
Cancer to Capricorn. Many seeds and fruits are able to 
travel over the salt element without injury to their 
power of germination, and after drifting on the sea 
currents from distant localities, to grow up on the briny 
soil of the sea coast. Among the beautiful growths 
common to the tropics, we may mention the Cocoa-nut 
palm, the Casuarina, the Screw palm [Pandmius) with 
its dagger-shaped leaves hanging down at the point, and 
