, 1875-07-25
SPARKS OF SCIENCE,


cDApKc ne CN4EA1@E
VI 7'N1<o Vt 0@fElNSE.
FLORA OF MADAGASCAR
The most striking trees in rha fors.t. ~
N.d.9.aca-.-a+haG Ghx,,so.,;.. -. ,:~s 4,
a-s ~" ysoeet4s "nlen n1' 'ne's
superb canoples far above the surrounding vege-
atlon- Their hranchaa terminate in masses of
flowers whose rich purple petals contrast effe<:t.
iyely with the emerald foiiaoa Firm, tba h.rk
~ tbaaa +rs.. ~, .,.Sat.,os, 49,. s.o ~ .~1-
shnndsn. rslio. 49, 49,: .usts uo~. ~
aDunaan' yeho" JUICE Hnlch thlckens on expo
sure aod foInns an excellent resin But Of the
trunks OF the CArysopsas the MadaRashes con-
struct their nroena or ho.t Alors7 Tho aaa+~
arc .o,at - wea.a.... -. 80 m.-s:.:
-. Ss..ss ~ ene i"91 1<'t91'''so
bly, elegant aspect, ornamented with panicles Of
rose-colored flowers but the kernel of its fruit.
Although not larper than Ar almond cont.5na
roiao, e,,o,,,t n, III, tr.n+v ,,.., ~. ma-s
9ht'asa hatonks to the nocturnal order 4poeyaacre
az order that moes good deal OF Feuon under
4.;sa oou1p.cuous aa aispas u SNOWY otossoms and
III tha beds Of rhe r,yera and torrant. n thu
island grows that wonder of the vegetable world,
the Lattice OF Window plant, ourtrand1a 5enen-
s.roaa' saats an ~ aq9atlo speaas nelons1ns 70 the
a@tans;ca,1 " S+1;n 49, teoA
Tais fr[rn Which tnffs NJ rnreo iaayss e-;,,e ont
aud up to the surface Of the water on which
they float. The main Veins of the leaf run from
,ne s.em 20 me ape1, ana are crossed regularly
:4o1 ne . nn10 ~ n.aS y. t no
framework are destitute of parenchyma-the
green pu1py matter ct the ordinary leaf, ard
are therefore, open like lace OF httioe-uork
@ "a .nt It lue !aavee :. g!ao1ase .rom tne paest
At the time of towering stem rises from the CEN
ire OF tho leaves, and, dividing, bears two spikes
o. email plnk noWers. uu1lne the dry season
aao pl11t u;t, ".tuere ~ mnJ @ o - fsvsa
TSa roors fnrnish The nat;ves with an artic1e ~
food that is highly valued For long time this
plant was supposed to be the only one Of its
genus Dot anou1 tnlrty Years Ego II. bernief,
tonrd = sacond hat 1aes ;nte-sst;n- .oac;as
baird enecies has ginca haan f]iscoTared In sene-
gal.
..--
~, .t aest ;n+arast;r" -" ;,ss,ta h;4;,<
ro~.S-, 49, =. 49, $50 e.o ~.r.s
.n,a~e..t... aca-;.r...-, ~ 1;.t,1 - 1.os,, -,
;.s das.sst,. oaoron,,, rot tt.t 1;t,,s - a~oa.a
:~-,NN,a y. m.. .1ss ~. ~ ~.
~. -. -. 49,. - ~ ~
ssaav so;1 % ~ +ha 1ic;,;t1 - shr,,hs and gow.rs
~ 11s~.. 49, ..t.1s, =, ~ 1.1
aa.,,e.sa =. .h.aa ~. 1-aa-. .ha 1as,.. xs,.s,a.
.s>d r,a.,<a., -. ,ro-,.a-s ~ t.s. 49,. - ~;
.,;saa 49, 49,. .,.saa. 49,. 49, ..,,a,r ,1,sa.
~ +aa.tars. 10 v.,ior ho-s--no,i,a-s .nd 80
h1~.,- ~.-a. ~ ,,r.a~s ~ ~,.~zS .-s
NacA kuafos auu pui'esotS' Ane sua,es ate
constantly on duty Paradtng around the borders
SIGN Of suy insect enemy, such as wasp. sui
dor ~ haatla whila ana hodv of tba anards
o1.' ~ DeoS'0' "'o WV 1oo3 ~ tuo eu.-.s
afe tnos employed as soldler.' another oi'as-
ion is busy lin foraging for flowers and
aromatic leaves. These, when found and cut into
D,anagaahla ht. ,ra h,,,nght home In the nata
1oe:.. se' 49, A..s " Wv ~
@no 'oepohlteo IN neap II Inc cens1e OF tne
space. This accomplished the round OF duties
devolvng upen the guards and purveyors seems
tn he conclrdad
~ H. 1;t.,. .,,.. .ao~. .,t.
W." '..7 nA.ae yeuo" noteeo a'1a Aeeoets taAe
up their hne OF labor by bearing the sections OF
leaves and fowers from the common heap down
into the galleries and cells OF the nest under
eronnd qha 1rat b,n antarad hv a., .,,ertura
~. ' -. 49, ~ 49, 49," ~
nea1 tno soa1oeass cohh71 o1 tne squa1e, !eaoS 70
Small excavation across which ls spread web
like that apun by . spider, hut divided into
squares about one-fourth Of an inch ACROSS. In
tho co,+ra ~ a.,h ~. ~ +bao. ats . va1
49, .a.a,. ~ s..,'" 49, r.,.,aas so 1 ,...
10" noney-1nakef' helpless prisoner pJ reason
Of its enormous abdomen Or honey-sack, which
is dstanded to twenty times the size Of tho rest
OF its hodv and renders locornotion imnossihte-
,rto ,,,,.r.1 - so~s~-s-s. - .11 -
N~ Aao7Ao "A.' utNA '"o n0"oy
n4Aefs Keeping tnem constantly sapplseo "lsh
flowers and pollen. From this material the
honey-makers distl honey by some process
analogous to That Of the bee, filing thar abdo-
room for no mora. What disposal is then made
Of the honey is as yet unknown. It ia suggested