FLORA OF THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 3 
lated, that large masses of trees are seen. In comparing the vegetable 
features of these islands with those of the surrounding countries, I will 
for the present confine myself to those of the southernmost. 
The profusion of vegetation which covers these islands is probably 
nowhere surpassed in India. Nearly the whole area of the islands is 
covered with dense primeval forests: scarcely one open spot is to be 
met with, where direct solar light admits of an herbaceous growth. 
But this overwhelming denseness is not owing to the predominanee of 
a few social plants, as is the case in temperate zones, but results from 
a large number of species crowded together in great variety. This 
becomes at once obvious when it is stated that, out of seventy-three 
dieotyledoneous genera, eleven-nineteenths appear as trees or shrubs, 
oceasionally (Ficus) in numerous species. But this luxuriance confines 
itself not alone to the extent of the forests; it is manifest also in the 
“grand and colossal size of the individual trees and shrubs composing 
them, and this applies likewise to the tropical richness of certain her- 
baceous plants (Musa sapientum, Troglodytarum ?), and to grasses 
(Bambusa). 
The ** Galathea's ” stay at the Nicobars was during the height of 
the dry season (January and February), and yet I do not recollect 
having observed 6ne single sound tree in a naked condition ; the forests 
being fully as verdant with foliage as with us in the month of June. 
This, however, is not dependent so much on a predominance of ever- 
green trees, which are of frequent occurrence (Aurantiacee, Clusiacee, 
Rhizophoree, Myríacee), as on their continued or, on the whole, little 
interrupted process of vegetation. As an instance of this I may mention — — 
that Thespesia populnea, Paritium tiliaceum, Sterculia Balanghas, and | 
Sophora tomentosa,—trees with herbaceous, soft leaves,—were not only _ 
in full foliage, but in flower and fruit. 
The trees in these ancient forests grow so closely together, that they 
are compelled to shoot up in length, being most frequently without 
branches to a great height from the root, and the crowns so full of 
leaves and so much crowded together, that they produce great darkness — z 
underneath. The leaves are frequently very large in size, such as many 
Laurinee, Mappa, Artocarpus, Uvaria, Barringtonia. Trees with com- — 
pound leaves are very frequent (Mimosee, Papilionacee, Aurantiaceæe, — 
Sapindacee, Canarium, Cuestis) ; sometimes they are very large (Sa- — 
pindus, Palme). As examples of herbaceous plants with mem d 
B2 : 
