920 REPORT OF THE HARVARD AFRICAN EXPEDITION 
slightly flattened on the upper side. The other species of interest is Cuvvera 
acutiflora, a bush six to eight feet tall, erect, and simple, the stem producing 
rather long spines. The flowers are produced abundantly in cymes that are pale 
green in general appearance, yet when the flowers are more closely viewed it 1s 
seen that they are pale green with a rich, though pale orange throat. The inter- 
nodes of this plant are swollen and in these swellings, ants make their abode. 
In the town of Monrovia itself, there are also a few plants of interest. Thus 
on the stone walls that surround the homes of the more well-to-do natives, one 
finds Pilea microphylla, a member of the Urticaceae; Chlorophytum sp., a genus 
later to be found in swamps and moist woods, and Bryophyllum calycinum, a 
“live-forever,”’ that is small yet covered with yellowish flowers which make it 
conspicuous. These plants, together with an orchid resembling Bulbophyllum, 
scattered on the sides of the wall in niches and among moss, are extremely 
picturesque and at the same time are strong reminders of the relatively high 
humidity and temperature that is experienced daily. In most all parts of the 
town, growing in and over the hedges, is Thunbergia alata, known in the West 
Indies as black-eyed-Susan. This species was seen only in Monrovia where it 
is probably introduced, as was also Alamandra cathartica, a South American 
plant which is here used as an ornamental. The weeds of the town show an 
American origin that is quite recent, as is testified to by Herr Dinklage, the 
German consul who is at the same time a very keen botanist and after whom 
many Liberian species of flowering plants have been named. Spigelia anthelmin- 
thica, Stenodia parviflora, Mirabilis jalapa, Cleome ciliata, Lantana camara, and 
Heliotropium indicum are abundant in the streets and their borders. Other plants 
that also assume the nature of weeds are Mimosa pudica, Micrococca mercurialis, 
Tachytarpheta indica, Phlomis nepetaefolia, Zornia diphylla, and Euphorbia 
stricta, the last named with another herbaceous member of the same genus appears 
to thrive in the border of the streets, especially in the vicinity of the presidential 
mansion. 
This region is not extensively exploited agriculturally. In the market only 
a limited variety of vegetables are offered for sale. Cassava and yams make up 
the bulk of the produce, although there appears to be a fair demand for the small 
red-hot peppers, the fruit of the introduced Capsicum. But a small proportion 
of the cassava and yams are produced in the vicinity of the capital, the greater part 
coming from farms upriver. Occasionally, in rambling around the outskirts of 
the town, one comes across small patches of cassava and yams in back yards or 
gardens. “A few trees of Carica papaya, or of the bread fruit, Artocarpus incisa, 
and more abundantly the banana, supply the family needs. Some of the back- 
yard gardens also supported a few pineapples or sugar cane. Citrus trees are 
for the most part, relatively scarce. 
On the level sandy zone previously mentioned, occurs the only instance of 
agriculture on a fairly large scale. Here there is a grove of coconut palms 
which appears to be doing very well, as should be the case when the land is 
relatively low and near the sea. In spite of its thriving appearance, however, 
Dr. R. P. Strong, leader of the Expedition, discovered some cases of the red- 
