(i ME. H. N. EIDLEY ON PLANTS 



situated at 10,900 ft., and was the highest point at which trees were encountered, for 

 though they occurred at slightly greater altitudes elsewhere, the remainder of the 

 journey was made on slopes too rocky or steep to support large growths. The first 

 naturally open country met with was hetween Camps XI and XII. 



From Camp XII the western slope of the ridge was descended to the valley of the 

 Nusulanarong, where Camp XIII was set at 10,300 ft. The low dense scrub which 

 covered the sides of the ridge was thickly clad Avith moss, and the party traversed it 

 over a network of roots and branches several feet above the ground. 



With the exception of a small area of shrubs and small trees, 20 ft. high, in the centre, 

 the valley was treeless ; its northern and eastern slopes were dry, but the western area 

 was swampy, and this was crossed before Camp XIV and the snows were reached. Scrub 

 similar to that on the east clothed the western slopes above the bog to equal height : 

 thence to Camp XIV, and almost to the edge of the snow, the steep rocky slopes of 

 Carstensz were clad with moss of many brilliant colours and gradually diminishing 

 small scattered shrubs; just below the snow-line the last flower met with was a 

 daisy [Myriactis). 



The expedition to Mt. Carstensz followed a river which took its source from the 

 snows : we were therefore ascending all the time, yet, as a matter of fact, some of the 

 earlier camps were placed at a higher level than those succeeding them, because the 

 route there had frequently to be taken along the crest of the river-valley or across 

 spurs which dropped abruptly into it. It was not until crossing the Bandarong 

 (4800 ft.) beyond Camp IX that the journey, having penetrated the frontal range, 

 became a steady ascent, and we had the feeling that we were really on the slopes of 

 the main range. 



These data will serve as an introduction to Mr. Ridley's analysis of the flora and 

 his indication of its zones. Such zones, however, for the most part, must necessarily 

 have very indefinite boundaries, for the mountainous country traversed was of a very 

 confused and broken nature, and it was not until the main mass was reached that clear 

 altitudinal zones could be traced. 



The Botanical Begioks of the Expedition. 



(1) The Coast Begion. — The country between the Base Camp and Camp I may be 

 regarded as a coastal or lowland region rising from the sea-level to 500 ft. Here the 

 forest was swampy and dense, and the flora was of a Malayan type with a few more 

 distinctly Papuan plants. 



(2) The Foothill Area from Camp I to Observation Point and thence to Camps IV, V, 

 and VI, may be considered as submontane, for though the latter localities are well within 

 the mountain region from which plants might descend to them, yet, on account of their 

 low situation in the valley of the Utakwa, tbey should be included in this zone of 500 to 



