664 
Less herbaceous and with a portion of the leaves persistent is Desmodium 
polycarpum ovalifolia. Near the top especially on the slopes barely 
sufficiently stable to hold soil, are dense groves of the suffrutescent 
acanthaceous Strobilanthus merrillii and S. pluriformis with prop roots. 
These species have mesophytice leaves which are shed for a short time at 
least; the small green bracts of the inflorescence stalks, however, remain 
persistent and perform the function of the leaves. Among the erect 
and scandent shrubs are the following: Chloranthus brachystachys, Disco- 
calyx cybianthoides, Neslitsea zeylanica, Melastoma fusca, Memecylon 
affine, Medinella ramiflora, Pittosporum odoratum, Pandanus whitfordii, 
Thea montana, Viburnum sinuatum, Wickstroemia lanceolata, W. ovata, 
and the following rubiaceous species: Heydotis elmeri, Urophyllum bata- 
anense, U. acuminatum, Psychotria bataanensis, P. diffusa, P. rubiginosa, 
Lasianthus bordenii, L. obliquinervis, and Amaracarpus pubescens.  1t 
will be seen from the above list that the Melastomacee and Rubiacee are 
well represented in number of species. Two small palms, Pinanga elmerii 
and P. barnesti are found on the slopes, just beneath the top of the ridge, 
the former near all the plots and the latter at the higher altitudes. ‘The ~ 
liana vegetation is best represented by Freycinetia ensifolia which is on 
nearly every tree in the closed, mossy forests; I’. luzonica is less fre- 
quently encountered. Hiptage luzonica, Strongylodon macrobotrys, 
Dinochloa tjankorreh, and a number of species of Calamus may be 
mentioned among the lianas. Shrubs and vines with showy flowers are 
represented by members of the Melastomaceew ; Melastoma fusca (shrub) 
and Medinella coriacea (vine) are present and their large, red flowers 
add color to the vegetation. The large, white, sweet-scented flowers of 
Rhododendron vidalii and R. schadenbergii appear profusely near the 
1,100-meter contour line. 
The pitcher plant, Nepenthes alata, is found in open places in this 
altitude and above. The sharp, knife-like rim of the crater (Pl. I) 
between Buenavista and Cabcaben peaks shows dense tangles of this plant, 
growing intermingled with shrubs and vines with here and there isolated 
patches of Dicranopteris and an occasional Marattia. Specimens of the 
Schefflera blancoi and Pittosporum resiniferum have the balete habit in 
capturing and strangling trees, although the latter from the beginning 
is a true liana and does not start as an epiphyte, as does the former. 
The upper portions of the main ridges leading to Cabeaben peak (outside 
the Reserve) and to Caybubo peak show conditions approximating the 
ones just described. 
The vegetation of the slopes -The slopes on either side of the Lamao 
River cafion (PJ. IL) show some resemblances to and many differences 
from the ridge vegetation. The vegetation on the overhanging cliffs at the 
ends of the slopes leading to the canvons have much in unison with plots: 
g : th | 
like D; for instance, the grass Miscanthus japonicus is common in this 
situation and the shrubby species of Pittosporum odoratum and Acrony- 
oe 
