4 FLORA OF THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 
leaves may be mentioned Musa, Colocasia, Caladium, Asplenium 
Nidus, Leea. 
We are reminded of the high development and luxuriance of the 
vegetation of tropical India by such fruits as the Shaddock (Citrus 
decumana), the Papaya (Carica Papaya), the Atap (Nipa fruticans), the 
Jack (Artocarpus integrifolia), the bread-fruit (Artocarpus incisa), 
the fruit of Entada Pursetha, Barringtonia speciosa, and Pandanus. 
In the dense forest-shade alluded to, pheenogamous plants were rarely 
seen, the ground being, for the most part, occupied by impenetrable 
masses of vegetable matter in a state of decomposition ; and it was only 
by glimpses that the crowds of climbing, twining, and parasitical plants, 
occupying the tops’ of the trees, could be discerned. On the smaller 
islands, e.g. Pulo Milu, and along the sea-shores of those of greater 
size, as well as generally wherever the forests were less dense and dark, 
an underwood appeared, which consisted most frequently of species of 
Guilandina, Psidium, Bridelia, Gelonium, Feronia,- Orophea, Nauclea, 
Marinda, Jasminum, Eleagnus, Boehmeria, Epicarpurus, Ficus (race- 
mosa). These were again intermixed with an endless pell-mell of twiners 
and climbers, the former chiefly consisting of graceful Ferns (Lygodium), 
Menispermee, numerous Convolvulacee, Ampelidee, Cucurbitacee, species 
of Aristolochia, Roxburghia, Smilax, and Piper. The large trees were 
strung with mighty twiners, such as Mucuna, Canavalia, Pongamia, 
Conocephalus, and the gigantic Entada Pursetha; while their trunks 
supported half-parasitical Ficus-species, Hoya viridiflora, Pothos scandens, 
elegant Lycopodia, and many ferns (Anthrophyum, Vittaria, Asplenium), | 
the luxuriant Asplenium Nidus being the most conspicuous among them. 
Of Orchidee there were only few in number as well as in species 
(Dendrobium ?): they were somewhat withered, and were the only 
plants which pointed at the aridity of the season. 
"The underwood is so dense as, on that account alone, to be very 
difficult to be traversed; but it becomes entirely impenetrable on occa- 
sions, which not unfrequently occur when it is overgrown with species 
of rattan (Calamus). Their leaves, from ten to twelve feet long, are 
densely armed below with thorns of several inches, while their elon- 
gated midrib, eight to twelve feet long, is densely beset with recurved 
hooks. Here none but the natives are able to penetrate by the aid 
of the cutlass, which they wield with great dexterity and celerity. I 
_ may likewise add, that nowhere have I seen such vast primeval forests, 
