The Vegetable World: Being a History of Plants, with Their Botanical Descriptions and Peculiar Properties

AFRICA.

Africa, like Asia, presents three very distinct divisions:—Ist. Northern Africa, which comprehends the Mediterranean and Sahara region; 2nd. Central Africa, which is tropical; 3rd. South Africa, which includes the Cape of Good Hope. ‘

The Mediterranean region, by which we mean the African littoral bathed by the Mediterranean, includes Algeria from the southern slopes of the Atlas to the sea, and the countries washed by the Delta of the Nile. This part of Africa presents, in many respects, a vegetation analogous to that of South Europe. By its close affinity with the corresponding European countries, Algeria would seem to be a natural centre of colonisation, the region of cultivation, its rich produce in cereals making it a granary of abundance to European countries. In the mountain region of North Africa all the plants of Central Europe may be cultivated with advantage. ° The Vine prospers in the neighbourhood of Tlemcen, Milianah, Mascare, and Medeah, where the colonists and even the natives have undertaken its cultivation. The Olive, so generally spread over North Africa, constitutes one of their chief sources of wealth to the Kabyle tribes. The Cork-tree forms immense forests in the interiors of the mountain region of the littoral: in the province of Constantine, gathering in the bark of the Cork-tree has become

an important trade since its conquest by France. On this subject M. Cosson, a traveller and botanist, thus expresses himself:— “The natural region of Northern Africa is especially characterised by the extreme rarity of rains, the dryness of the atmosphere and the extremes of temperature; the absence of great ranges of mountains and of permanent water-courses give an aspect quite special to this desert-like vegetation. The number of vegetable species growing spontaneously does not exceed five hundred. The greater number of these are perennials, which grow in tufts, and have a dry and sterile aspect, giving them a rugged and hard appearance, which is quite characteristic. The families represented in the Algerian Sahara in greatest number are the Compositex, the Graminex, the Leguminosex, the Crucifere, and the Solanacez. Among the Ligneous species are the Tamarix, a genus of elegant flowering shrubs, and the Mastive-tree (Pulmia Atlantica). The Date-tree is, however, the chief source of wealth in the gardens of the Oasis. This tree is cultivated not alone for the abundance and variety of its products, but also for its shade, which secures other cultivated plants from the violence of the winds, and maintains in the soil the moisture required for the cultivation of other crops. ** Besides the Date, the Oasis generally presents an abundant crop of Figs. Pomegranates, Apricots, and frequently the Vine; the - Peach, the Quince, the Pear, and the Apple, are invariably planted in the gardens of the Ksours, and in the Oasis situated near the hills. More rarely we meet in the Oasis, the Orange-tree, Olives, Barley, and more rarely still, Wheat, which is cultivated in the irrigated lands of the neighbourhood in the intervals between the Date plantations. Onions, Beans, Carrots, Rape, and Cabbages, occupy a large place among the plants cultivated. Pimento is also largely cultivated for the stimulating properties of its fruit, which render it a favourite condiment with the Arabs. The Egg plant, or Mad Apple, and the Love Apple (Lycopersicum esculentum), are cultivated in some gardens for their fruit. Numberless species of Cucurbitacee are also sown in the gardens in summer, and sometimes attain a great size. The Gombo (Hibiscus esculentus) is cultivated here and there for its mucilaginous fruit. The industrial and fodder plants are principally Hemp, repre-

sented by a dwarf variety called Haschich, which is employed as a textile plant, and its extremities are smoked by some of the less fervent Mussulmen. Tobacco is also cultivated. Henne (Lawsonia inermis), the leaves of which have been employed as a black colour in painting, is only cultivated in the Oasis of Zeban.”’

Equatorial Africa is only very imperfectly known, in consequence of the terribly insalubrious nature of its coast. The same forms of vegetation, however, prevail there which are found in other tropical regions. We may remark here that the plants, which are usually herbaceous in countries without the tropics, become ligneous in these regions. This is the case with plants of the families of the Rubiacez and the Malvaceew. We note here also the almost entire disappearance of the Cruciferse and the Caryophyllacee. The prevailing families are the Leguminosew, the Terebinthacexw, the Malvacee, Rubiaces, Aranthaces, Cappari- , and Anonaceze. If we take a glance at prevailing vegetation proper to this region of Africa, we find upon the humid coasts impenetrable forests formed of Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia tomentosa), Plantain-trees (Musa, Amomum), odd-shaped Panda-nace, gigantic Malvacew (such as the Baobab), some Bromeliacee Aroidee, and Aloes. Among others is Aloe Socotrina, which furnishes the Aloes of medicine. This and several fleshy Euphorbias impress their strange characteristics upon the vigorous vegetation of this region. It would be depriving African vegetation ofits richest ornament not to mention its admirable Palms. At their head stands the Olive-like Palm (Elais guineensis), the fruit of which, of the size of an Olive, contains so much oil that the liquid flows out when it is pressed between the fingers. The seed contains a sort of butter. The sap of this precious tree yields an excellent wine; its leaves prove excellent food for sheep and goats, and its fruit the

Palm-oil. But the true Palm wine is produced from Sagus vinifera. Another of this elegant family of Palms is Lodoicea Leckellarum, the fruit of which is larger than a man’s head, and weighs upwards of twenty pounds; it sometimes floats as far as the coast of India. It is a fact worthy of remark that in this region very few Ferns

Plate XXII.—Vegetation of White’s River, Abyssinia

or Orchids are observed, and yet these groups of plants are extremely numerous in other tropical countries. Among the Exotic vegetables which are successfully cultivated in Central Africa we may reckon Maize, Rice, Sorghum, Indian Corn, Manioch, the Caladium esculentum, or Caraibian Cabbage, a plant belonging to the family of the Aracew, the rhizome and leaves of which are alimentary; the Banana, the Mango, and the Papaw-tree (Carica papaya), the fruit of which, about the size of a small Melon, is eaten either raw or cooked, and the pulp, ° mixed with sugar, forms a delicious marmalade; also the Ananas, Figs, Coffee shrub, Sugar-cane, and Ginger, divers species of Haricots, and various species of Dolechos, the Earth-nuts, Cotton plant, Tobacco, and Tamarinds. Plate XXII., which represents an Abyssinian village, will give some idea of the vegetation of Equatorial Africa. Alongside the lofty Palms and Adansonias we see here the usual arrangements for cultivating rice.

South Africa, the region of the Cape of Good Hope, is the country of the Proteas, Pelargoniums, Epacridee, Oxalids, and Ixias, numerous species and endless varieties of which decorate our hothouses and parterres. No other country can compare with this region for the prodigious abundance and dimensions of its Heaths. It is their true country. While the plains of Europe, the Alps included, can scarcely point out half a dozen species, at the Cape there are many hundreds. They attain sometimes the height of fifteen or sixteen feet. Their leaves are small, inconspicuous, and aricular; but their flowers are sometimes very grand, and the colours which decorate them brilliant in the extreme, varying from the softest shades to everything that is dazzling. The Flora of this region is rich in vegetable forms, but it is by no means smiling in its aspect. We find no true forests, grand and sombre, in the whole region; there are few creeping plants, but, on the other hand, there are many grass plants. The most characteristic families are the Restiacew, Iridex, Proteacex, Ericaceew, Ficoides, Drosma, Geraniacee, Oxalidee, Polygals. Among the various species we may mention the Ixias; the Gladioles, with their sword-shaped leaves and parti-coloured flowers; the Strelitzias, so remarkable for their inflorescence and for the odd divisionof their blue and yellow flowers; the Proteas,sonamed from

their diversity of appearance; the Leucadendrons, of which one species, L. argentium (the Silver-tree), rises to the height of from thirty to forty feet, its branches charged with lanceolate leaves nearly white and silvery, and of silky appearance, with heads of bright yellow flowers; the Hricee, with rigid, evergreen, whorled leaves, and monopetalous flowers, of which this seems to be the natural home. We may add to our summary the Helichrysums and Gnaphaliums, the corymbiferous composites, better known as ’ Immortelles; the Mesembryanthemums, or Ice plants; the Stapelias, of grotesque appearance, with star-like flowers; the leafless Ascle-piads, with angular fleshy stem and showy flowers, but somewhat foetid odour; the Phylicas, a genus of Rhamnads, somewhat resembling Heaths, with abundant evergreen foliage flowering in small cottonous heads of white flowers; and last, by no means least, the Pelargoniums, of which an infinite variety, the result of culture, are known. Add to these the Oxalids, the evergreen Sparmannia, whose white flowers, stamens with purple filaments and irritable anthers, are so ornamental in Orangeries.

It is upon the sandy coast of this curious botanical region that such plants as the Stapelias, Iridew, Ice plants, and Diasmos abound. The Heaths and Crassulads grow upon the slopes of the mountains. The cultivated plants are the Cereals, most of the fruits and legumes of Europe, the Sorghums of Caffreland, the Banana, the Tamarind, and the Guava-tree.

AMERICA.

Vegetation is richer and more varied in America than in any other part of the globe. Beginning with North America, we find its Polar vegetation quite analogous to that of Europe and Asia under the same latitudes. The same kind of trees are found there, action The Willow, Birch, and Poplar, exposed to the persistent of the cold, become stunted bushes; and even the same herbaceous forms of Saxifrages, Mosses, and Lichens prevail.:

Without dwelling on the Arctic regions, then, we may divide this immense country into two regions: one of which, descending as far as 36°, may be called the Northern region; the other, One ae

prehended between 36° and 30° of latitude, will constitute the Southern region. The Northern region of America well deserves to be called the region of theStarworts and the Golden or Copper Birches (Solidago); those beautiful composites abound there with the genera Liatrus, Rudbeckia, and Gaillardia of the same family. The Cinotheras, Clarkias, Andromedas, and Kalmias, charming ornamental plants, well known in our flower gardens, likewise characterise this vegetable zone. Amongst the most abundant species, we may mention the numerous species of Pines, Firs, Larches, Thujas, Junipers; no less than twenty-seven species of Willow, twenty-five others consist of Oaks, Beeches, Chestnuts, Wych Elms, and Hornbeams, Alders, Birches, Poplars, Ash, and Elms, with which are mingled the American Plane; the Liquidambars, the trunk and branches of which furnish juices used in medicine; the Tulip-tree,.with singularly truncate leaves and large, spreading, solitary, yellowish flowers; different speciesofMaples, Lime-trees, Robinias, and Walnut-trees. Together with these numerous and varied arborescent species, which attain considerable dimensions, grow the Myrica cerifera, which furnishes an abundant wax drawn from the fruit by boiling; the Currant bush (/bes), with coloured and ornamental flowers in great varieties of red, yellow, and white; the elegant Andromeda, Azalea, Rhododendron and Meadow Sweet present themselves in endless varieties; Sumacs, a species of which (Rhus toxicodendron), with greenish yellow flowers, contains a juice so acrid that contact with it produces blisters and erysipelas, and others a dangerous poison; with Ceanothus, Hollies, and Blackberries.

The Southern region is comprehended between 30° and 36°; its vegetation somewhat resembles that of the tropics, being a transition between the temperate and torrid zones. Walnuts, Wych Elms, Chestnuts, and-Oaks are found there, and alongside of them three specimens of Palms,—the Chamerops palmetto, the terminal buds of which form a delicious legume; some Yuccas, some Zamias among the Cycadew; some Passifloras, woody twining plants, such as Bignonia Sapindus, Cactuses, Laurels. Lastly, by the side of the Tulip-trees, Pavias and Robinias, grow magnificent Magnolias, of which this is the true domain, The vegetation of this region is thus remarkable in its variety. The