A STUDY IN ENDEM1SM. 275 



That the peculiar flora found on Ritigala can survive there 

 is due to the dampness of the spot. Isolated, lofty, and 

 steep, Ritigala summit condenses a great deal of vapour, and 

 is commonly cloud-capped at night even in dry weather, and 

 during the south-west monsoon is often constantly bathed in 

 mist and perhaps rain, though the country below is suffering 

 from a rainless wind. My own visit, on March 22 and 24, 

 1905, illustrated this peculiarity of the spot. Though the rest 

 of the country was very dry, Ritigala was cloud-capped nightly 

 for many days, and on my second ascent I was caught in a 

 heavy thunderstorm at 4.30 r.M., during which probably \ in. 

 of rain fell over the eastern side and summit of the hill. 



My ascents were made from Galpitigala, where by the 

 courtesy of the Director of Public Works I occupied the 

 Public Works Department bungalow. The first few miles 

 are upon the level on the eastern side of the mountain, through 

 old chena land and patches of jungle. Opposite the chief 

 summit, the path turns westwards, and thenceforward there 

 is a steep ascent to the top. Even at the base of the hill the 

 effect of the moister climate is visible in the green appearance 

 of the jungle and grass, and after passing the ruins which 

 strew the lower slopes the jungle is very fine, containing 

 large trees and a rich undergrowth, among which are 

 a good many ferns — rare in the dry zone — and a lot of 

 Geophila repens. Further up, in the cooler and moister air 

 above 1,000 feet, the flora assumes a greener and more 

 " up-country " look. Ardisia Missionis is very frequent all 

 the way to the top, also Begonia malabarica, (both with 

 green and with speckled leaves) and Ophiorrhiza Mungos, 

 Calami, Caryota urens, Asplenium Nidus, and other things 

 were also noticed. At about 2,000 feet the flora begins to 

 show a more distinct montane element, Anoectochilus zeylani- 

 cus, Strobilanthes, and other hill forms, and many ferns, 

 becoming common. Peperomia pseudo-rhombea var. tenuis 

 is very common in rock crevices all the way up, and shows 

 considerable variety of form, having particularly large leaves 



