34 A MONTANE RAIN-FOREST. 



returning to forest. Commonest of these are: Bachharis scoparia and 

 Dodonooa angustifolia; others are Garrya fadyenii, Acalypha virgata, 

 Oreopanax capitation, Bocconia frutescens, Myrica microcarpa, Malva- 

 viscus arboreus, Eupatorium parviflorum, Micromeria obovata, Hedyos- 

 mum nutans, and Vernonia intonsa. 



The herbaceous vegetation, although rich in species, is not so rich 

 in individuals as the most luxuriant spots in the Windward Slopes, and 

 is characterized by the entire absence of all the most hygrophilous 

 species of the northern side of the range. Thickets of Gleichenia pecti- 

 nata and Odontosorea aculeata are frequently encountered, particularly 

 at the higher altitudes, and beneath them the ground is bare of vege- 

 tation and very densely shaded. Pteridium aquilinum also frequently 

 forms thickets, but they are much more open and accompanied by 

 sedges and grasses. 



In the more heavily wooded portions of the Leeward Slopes the 

 commonest herbaceous plants are Pilea grandifolia, Uncinia hamata, 

 Rynchospora eggersiana, and Rynchospora polyphylla. On steep banks 

 and shaded rocks may be found Pilea microphylla, Pilea parietaria, 

 Peperomia turfosa, Peperomia rupigaudens, Vittaria lineata, and Antro- 

 phyum lineatum. In more open situations Lycopodium clavatum, 

 Lycopodium cernuum, and Lycopodium fawcettii form such extensive 

 growths as to be very conspicuous. Begonia nitida and Begonia acumi- 

 nata are frequent on steep slopes, and the orchids Epidendrum cochle- 

 atum, Epidendrum ramosum, and Epidendrum verrucosum. The com- 

 monest ferns are Polystichum struthionis, Dryopteris effusa, Blechnum 

 capense, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Blechnum occidentale, and Pteris longi- 

 folia, to which might be added over one hundred that occur sporadically. 

 Other plants of interest which give character to this habitat are Rubus 

 alpinus, Iresine celosioides, Lobelia caudata, Ascyrum hypericoides, 

 Liabum umbellatum, Spiranthes elata, Polypodium crassifolium, and 

 Lantana camara. 



The number of species of lianes is greater in these forests and the 

 ruinate than it is on the Windward Slopes, but they are no more con- 

 spicuous as an element of the vegetation. They comprise commonly: 

 Smilax celastroides, Passiflora sexfiora, Passiflora pendulifiora, Metas- 

 telma atrorubens, Metastelma ephedroides, Ipomoea triloba, Manettia 

 lygistum, and the herbaceous woolly-leaved Relbunium hypocarpium. 

 The loranthaceous parasites are also conspicuous, including Loranthus 

 parvifolius, Phoradendron flavens, Dendrophthora cupressoides, and Den- 

 trophthora gracilis. 



The outcroppings of limestone scattered over the Leeward Slopes 

 usually project above the shade of the forest and are occasionally 

 large enough to support small trees of Juniperus barbadensis, bushes of 

 Baccharis scoparia and Micromeria obovata. In their crevices and 

 pockets occur a number of plants, some of which are not found else- 



