23. Chap. 23.-A Country Where The Trees Never Lose Their Leaves.

CHAP. 23.—A COUNTRY WHERE THE TREES NEVER LOSE THEIR LEAVES.

There is also another tree similar to the preceding one, but with a thicker foliage, and a blossom like the rose. This flower shuts[1] at night, and, beginning to open towards sun-rise, appears in full blow by mid-day; the natives are in the habit of saying that in this way it goes to sleep. The same island bears also the palm, the olive, the vine, and the fig, with various other kinds of fruit. None of the trees in this island lose their leaves;[2] it is abundantly watered by cool streams, and receives the benefit of rain.

1. Fée suggests that this may be a Magnolia; but, as he remarks, most plants open and shut at certain hours; consequently, this cannot be regarded as any peculiar characteristic, sufficient to lead with certainty to its identification.

2. Theophrastus, from whom our author is copying, says that this is the case only with the fig-tree there.