18 
Momi Inundation Area. 
From the forest one emerges into the blazing sunshine, on an open plain, 
which it takes several hours to cross, all stones, gravel, sand, and “ lalang,” 
dotted with small trees of Casuarina equisetifolia. This open space forms an 
inundation-area of the river, and is under water during the rains. Amongst 
the stones Geodorum pictum, a pink-flowered orchid, was characteristic, and 
Peristylus goodyeroides was found among the “lalang” which covered the 
sandy areas. The most remarkable feature was abundant clumps of a new 
Pteris, P. bambusoides, with erect rhachises resembling stems rising from an 
underground rhizome, each rhachis about 2 m. in height, clothed with 
segments from the hase to the apex, originally bilateral, becoming spiral 
later through the twisting of the cortex. The species was also seen near 
Wariap, in passing through the “kebuns.” Professor Bower, to whom 
I submitted this interesting new fern, suggests that “the general habit 
might possibly compare with that of Pteris grandiflora, in so far that both 
are probably creeping rhizomatous.” 
Pandanus Trees. 
The second day, while still in the “ korang” forest, we passed through a 
striking group of old Pandanus trees, about 30 m. high, each rising out of 
the forest on numberless grotesque stilt roots for about a quarter of the 
height, succeeded by a straight stem with much-branched top; the old 
leaves hung in limp masses from every possible resting-place and strewed 
the wet ground underneath. These weird trees gave a pregnant impression 
of the scenic possibilities of this genus under primitive conditions. Even 
the Malays were impressed; but the Papuans spoke of similar isolated 
groups scattered through this forest. These groups possibly represent 
the first vegetative covering of the “korang,” displaced later by more 
rapidly growing dicotyledonous forest trees, as only those plants which 
could respond by equal vertical growth and so maintain the same level 
as their competitors would have a chance of survival under such enveloping 
conditions. No fruit was seen on the trees or underneath them. 
(c) SEconDARY ASSOCIATIONS. 
Once on the foot-hills the character of the forest changes, the sodden 
effect of the “ korang” belt works out, and it loses the mud-washed look 
and steaminess suggestive of constant inundation. The ground, rocky and 
broken, is strewn with Sapindaceous and Anacardiaceous fruits, red Pometia, 
and other brightly-coloured kinds, and undergrowth in the shape of plants 
and shrubs appears, Musswnda frondosa being general. The foliage of both 
trees and lianes is less monstrous and more varied in form, while a graceful 
epiphytic flora puts in an appearance. From time to time small cleared 
