File:A naturalist in Mid-Africa- being an account of a journey to the Mountains of the Moon and Tanganyika (1890) (14782414282).jpg

Identifier: naturalistinmida00elli (find matches)
Title: A naturalist in Mid-Africa: being an account of a journey to the Mountains of the Moon and Tanganyika
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Elliot, G. F. Scott (George Francis Scott), 1862-1934
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: London A.D. Innes & Co.
Contributing Library: Field Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: The Field Museum's Africa Council

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erly and south-westerly winds, which prevail during the whole year. It has thus a most marked characteristic flora. The same plants range from Ruwenzori and Tanganyika to Sierra Leone and the Gambia. There is no earthly reason why they should not, for the same climatic conditions prevail everywhere. Thus Ruwenzori belongs in part to the Western Flora, and even up to about 7,000 feet altitude there are upon its flanks deep, steamy, forest-clad valleys, such as the Wimi, where I found numerous characteristic forms belonging to the West. Of these plants many are creepers with broad, rather thin, membranous leaves, with very long stalks. There are numerous ferns, but very few annuals or small shrubs of any kind. All those plants which are specially adapted to heat and moisture together occur frequently. As to the origin of this very distinct flora, which is one of enormous size, it is extremely difficult to form any opinion. It is not European, for I find no similarity to European or Mediterranean genera
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Fig. 32.—Waterfall on the Wimi River. BOTANY. 215 whatever. It is, however, quite certain that it must have come from somewhere, unless it originated in the region; and therefore one is obliged to suppose that it arrived either from South America or some part of Asia, or from the Cape of Good Hope. Of these the most probable is certainly Asia, and there is a resemblance between the genera of Malaya and those of Congese Africa.* I entered and left this region in two places during my route, and in all my experience I have never seen so well-marked a line of distinction. When I came into the Wimi valley, I could in some places have supposed myself near Sierra Leone; and again, on descending the mountains bordering Tanganyika on their western side, to about 3,500 feet, I immediately noted that I was in a Western Flora. On leaving the lake at Kituta, I found myself at once out of it after ascending not more than 1,000 feet above the level of the lake (i.e., 3,700 feet). Now let us consider the Easterly

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