THE MONTANE FLORA OF FIJI. 205 
the ground, often large patches of the giant hepatic Treubia bracteata, most 
striking in full fruit, would be seen. 
The forest undershrubs were Scheflera vitiensis, the deliciously fragrant 
and abundant Leucosmia acuminata, Gardenia vitiensis, Psychotria Storekii, 
Solanum vitiense and S. tetrandrum. The palm-like Pandanus Joskei, often 
attaining a great height, and Angiopteris evecta were also very common, and 
Alpina Boia, about 4 m. high, formed graceful clumps, growing especially 
near open places. 
Scandent ` Plants.—Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron and Calamus sp., 
Freyeinetia Storekii, F. Мине, Е. Pritchardii, and the delicate little 
F. vitiensis, with Stenochlena palustris, Polypodium lingueforme, and the 
stem-clasping ivy-like Piper insectifugum, with innumerable pendent white 
spikes, formed but a tithe of the rampant growth. Of flowering lianes 
the commonest were Alyxia scandens amd А. stellata, Morinda Forsteri, 
the rusty-looking Mesa corylifolia, the beautiful and abundant Clerodendron 
amicorum, whose large white flowers are produced in snewy profusion. 
Agatea violaris, Jasminum simplicifolium, Rubus paniculatus, and the dainty 
Psychotria sulphurea, with а profusion of small white flowers, were all of 
scrambling habit, spreading over the crowns of the trees. Passiflora vitiensis 
and Smilax vitiensis were associated tendril plants, with (rettonoplesium 
cymosum and Lygodium reticulatum equally abundant, but more twining 
in habit. 
Epiphytes.—Astelia montana is as characteristic of the forks of the 
monumental Dakua branches as its New Zealand allies on their Kauri hosts. 
Procris montana of spreading habit is striking with its red gelatinous pseudo- 
fruits, like a double row of berries up the stem, the male plants feathered from 
the abundant white flowers. Peperomias are very numerous, varying from 
the spreading, glaucous-green little P. curtispica to P. carnosa, with erect 
stems up to a metre in height and large intensely dark green leaves, 
Asplenium Nidus, Hymenophyllum australe, Polypodium Lovogramme, Hymeno- 
lepis spicata, Trichomanes peltatum, Т. hymenoides, and T. savifragoides 
were general, and also the mosses Leucobryum laminatum, LHypopterygium 
oceanicum, Trichosteleum pacificum, &c., which grow on the trunks of 
the trees much as in deciduous woods. Lichens, principally Stictacez, 
form most luxuriant growth, the Pavonia-like thalli of the bright green 
Cunogonium Leprieurii and the grey-green encrusted Dictyonema sericeum 
being conspicuous. In orchids, Farina laxior, with its extraordinary ladder- 
like last year’s spikes, was very abundant, forming large clumps in the forks 
of trees; Dendrobium Gordoni, D. sertatum, and D. prasinum were the 
showiest species, while the minute Phreatia vitiensis was general. I did not 
observe the epiphytic gardens described for tropieal countries as growing on 
the upper branches and leaves of the forest trees ; all the species enumerated 
