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X. On the Flora of the Eastern Coast of the Malay Peninsula. Ву Henry N. RIDLEY, 
M.A., F.L.S., Director, Gardens and Forest Department, Singapore. 
(Plates LXI.-LXVI.) 
Read 2nd March, 1893. 
Tue eastern side of the Malay Peninsula has never hitherto, so far as I am aware, 
been visited by any botanist, and hence its flora has remained absolutely unknown. The 
researches of the earlier botanists Griffith, Wallich, Porter, Maingay, Scortechini, and 
the later collectors have been confined to the more accessible western side; for in the 
earlier days the eastern coast was not sufficiently opened up for travellers and collectors. 
During the past few years, however, I have been able to make some collecting-trips in 
this rich and interesting region, chiefly in the native State of Pahang; but I have also 
visited the more northern States of Kelantan and Tringganu, and also the island of 
Pulau Tiuman, lying off the coast of Johore. 
` Тһе number of plants obtained enables me to give a fair representation of the lowland 
and coast flora, and of that of the subalpine woods of the Tahan district and of the 
limestone rocks of Kota Glanggi. The number of different species collected and seen 
during my explorations here exceeds 1200; but it must be remembered that this repre- 
sents but a small proportion of the whole flora, as the opportunities of collecting during 
а rapid expedition such as that up the Tahan River are but limited, and further that а 
very large proportion of the trees and shrubs seen were not in flower or fruit at the 
time of my visit. I think it would be within the mark to say that the number of 
species existing in the area traversed is not less than three times that number. 
I am indebted to Mr. C. B. Clarke for identifying the Сурегасеге, to Professor Hackel 
for the Graminez, to Mr. Baker for the Vascular Cryptogams, and to Dr. King for many 
plants of various orders. А number of species still remain unidentified in the collection 
in the Singapore Gardens Herbarium. Of some the materials are inadequate, others 
belong to difficult and critical orders, such as that of the Rubiacez, of which there 
appear to be a very large number of species in the Malay Peninsula as yet undescribed, 
which, however, it will be necessary to compare with those of the Archipelago. 
The Relations of the Pahang Flora. 
Till the plants of other parts of the Malay Peninsula are known more thoroughly it is 
difficult to get any clear idea of the origin of the flora of the whole region or to break 
it up into floral provinces. There is, however, a very marked difference between the 
floras of Singapore and Pahang. 
` Many common plants of the southern portion of the Peninsula, and especially the 
secondary jungle plants, become scarce or disappear in Pahang; such plants are: 
SECOND SERIES.—BOTANY, VOL. III. 20 
