BOTANICAL REPORT OF LIBERIA 547 
Kolobopetalum leonense with its large, shining, heart-shaped leaves, Rhigio- 
carya racemifera, and Hippocratea Thomasii are the conspicuous woody climb- 
ers. The latter is especially conspicuous since it grows at the edge of openings 
and climbs up the tall trees. It is more striking because of the fact that it 
produces numerous panicles of ochraceous-orange flowers which give off a very 
delightful fragrance. Coccinia cordifolia and Melothria tridactyla, both herba- 
ceous climbers belonging to the Curcurbitaceae, also grow here, but apparently 
in smaller numbers and less luxuriantly than in the open. 
There is Nephthytis constricta and one or two additional terrestrial aroids 
that thrive in the moist, gravelly, and shaded forest floor. The gravelly, yet 
clayey banks of the brooks support a luxuriant growth of four or five species 
of Selaginella. Marattia fraxinea also occurs in this same habitat, in fact ap- 
pears to be confined thereto, for it was previously collected near the Du River 
under identical conditions. Of the grasses collected, Guaduella marantifolia 
and Olyra latifolia both large-leaved species, and Pseudoechinolaena polystachya, 
a small delicate species, should be listed. Many other herbaceous types and 
a few conspicuous bushes are also present but lack of names prevents their 
mention. 
In waste places about the town, apparently not under cultivation, yet 
eaten by the natives, are several solanaceous plants, among which are Physalis 
peruviana, two species of Capsicum that furnish the desired gastronomic thrill, 
and two species of Solanwm. One member of the latter genus is sold in the 
market for greens and is greatly appreciated. The other member resembles 
in the form of its fruit, an immature egg plant. The sword bean is cultivated 
on a small scale. Of this only the leaves are eaten, not the young green pods. 
The true weeds of little apparent value are represented by Acalypha ciliata, 
Eriosema glomeratum, Sida carpinifolia, Heliotropium sp., Amarantus spinosus 
and Cassia occidentalis. It is possible that A. spinosus furnishes a green, and 
C’. occidentalis a laxative. Species of Cassia are observed in the vicinity of nearly 
every town. 
Rice fields because of their extent and numbers have been mentioned fre- 
quently, partly to convey an idea of the vast amount of land given over to 
the cultivation of that crop, but also because rice is the bread and butter of 
the natives, to say nothing of it as a source of income to the local chiefs who 
have a monopoly of this produce. One cannot but wonder at Sir Harry John- 
ston’s words after one has seen and passed through the many and large fields. 
He states that ‘‘the denseness of the interior woodland is at once a guarantee 
of unexploited wealth and a terrible hindrance to the civilization of the coun- 
try.” The first part of his statement is undoubtedly true, but the second part, 
if agriculture is considered the backbone of civilization, certainly cannot be 
substantiated, at least at the present day, for the natives, by their own hands 
have converted thousands of acres of land into productive areas. It seems 
that lack of easy transportation and on that account lack of contact with the 
outside world is what determines the advance of civilization. At all events, 
in this locality the people have reached the stage of development that makes 
