204 MR. H. H. W. PEARSON ON THE 
Atylosia Candollei, Osyris arborea, Woodfordia floribunda, ete. 
Among the smaller plants which are widely represented on the 
patanas below 4500 feet, are several species of Leguminose, 
Composite, Labiate, and a few Cyperacew. 
Flora of the Patanas above 4500 feet. 
On the south, the Uva patanas abut against the wet-zone forest 
at about 4500 feet. On the south-west and west, however, wide 
and extensive tongues of patana-vegetation protrude into the 
forest on the eastern slopes of the central ridge, and even in 
places eross the summit of the ridge: thus, extensive patanas are 
found on Horton Plains (7000 ft.) on the eastern slopes ot 
Totapella, up the Hakgala valley, and across the ridge as far as 
Nuwara Eliya. These localities enjoy a heavy and continuous 
rainfall, and here a patana-vegetation flourishes upon a soil 
which is rich in humus. Here, as on the Uva patanas, the 
Graminezs constitute the bulk of the flora, and belong, for the 
most part, to the same genera as in that region ; their growth 
is, however, more luxuriant. They have a marked tufted habit”, 
which on the slopes is often so pronounced as to render walking 
difficult ; above 6000 feet, however, they grow much more cum- 
pactly and form a coarse turf. Species of Cyperaces and Erio- 
eaulonacez are very abundant above 5000 feet, being especially 
characteristic of swampy places. The arborescent flora is re- 
presented by a single species, Rhododendron arboreum, Sm., var. 
nilagiricum ; this tree has a dwarfed and gnarled habit, especially 
at lower elevations, where it is exposed to the blighting effect of 
the S.W. gales: this habit was also noticed by Schimper in the 
case of trees growing in an exposed situation on Pedurutala- 
gala (7). On Horton Plains, where this species is very abundant, 
the growth is more luxuriant; in this locality the branches 
support long trailing masses of Usnea barbata. Above 5000 feet, 
the composition of the flora changes considerably and becomes 
almost temperate, and includes species of such characteristic 
tcmperate and subalpine genera as Anemone, Thalictrum, Ra- 
nunculus, Berberis, Hypericum, Rubus, Potentilla, Alchemilla, 
Agrimonia, Valeriana, Dipsacus, Campanula, Gentiana, ete. 
Many of the Uva shrubs are as well or even better represented 
* The grasses of the Campos have a similar habit; Warming (1), 
p. 263, 
