306 MR. H. H. W. PEARSON ON THE 
The constituents of the narrow belt separating the forest from 
the patana are, however, far from being the weaker species of 
either formation, whether they are considered numerically or 
from the point of view of adaptation ; they are hardy perennials, 
for the most part shrubby or arborescent, whose characters in no 
way suggest that they have been crowded out from either flora 
by natural eauses. The primary factor in their selection has 
undoubtedly been the reenrrent grass-fires which periodically 
lay waste the patana-areas, and to whieh further reference wil. 
be made. 
Small areas of forest, still conneeted by forest-growth with 
the main development, or even completely isolated from it, extend 
into the patanas: an isolated patch of forest frequently clothes 
the erown of a hill whose slopes are occupied by patana. And 
similarly, though perhaps less commonly, isolated patches of 
patana whose area may vary from a few hundred square yards 
to several acres are found completely surrounded by forest. 
The Eastern Boundary of the Patanas. 
In the cast, the patanas pass gradually into an open park-like 
forest consisting of low xerophytie trees and an undergrowth of 
grass*. This change occurs on either side of Madulsima ridge. 
The features of the Ceylon “ Park-eountry " forest are thus 
described (9): * This is a type of forest found at the foot of the 
Himalayas, having grass as undergrowth instead of dense brush- 
wood as in other forests of the Island. The flora of these forests 
is strikingly similar to that of the sub-Himalayan forest, some of 
the species being rarely found elsewhere in the Island. Such are 
Anogeissus latifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon, Terminalia Chebula, 
and Pterocarpus Marsupium....Their associates are also essen- 
tially Indian species, such as Terminalia Bellerica, Phyllanthus 
Emblica, Careya arborea ; while the most common Phyllanthus is 
very like the Glochidion velutinum found in the sub-Himalayan 
forests.” 
The grasses constituting the undergrowth are principally 
Anthistiria arguens, Andropogon filipendulus, A. caricosus, 
A. serratus, Ophiurus perforatus, Aristida sp., and Chrysopogon 
teneantha (?) (10). 
* Such a forest has been termed “ Savannenwald " by Schimper, * Pflanzen 
Geographie,’ p. 282. 
