COLLECTED IN DUrCH NEW GUINEA. 7 



3000 ft. elevation. The country consisted of steep forest-covered lulls. " The formation 

 of the foothills," says Wollaston (Geogr. Journ., March 1914, p. 252), " is exceedingly 

 complex. The ground on which the first depot camp was situated (about 2300 ft.) was 

 a light-coloured limestone rock. A few miles to the south-east was a steep ridge, along 

 the top of which was an outcrop of pure coral rock ; and a few miles to the north-west 

 of it the ridges between the various river-valleys appeared to be made entirely of 

 boulders and gravel." The forest in this region was very dense, and the flora was 

 typically Malayan. Here occurred the Anonacese, Garcinias, Olacinese, and Icacinea^ 

 (except one species of Gomphandra), Sapindaceae, Ampelidese, Eugenia (one only of 

 which ascended higher), Barringto7iia, Leguminosae, Melastomacese, Gardenia, Ixora, 

 TFebet^a, TJrophi/llum, Nauclea, Maesa, Ardisiu, Flsonia, Myristicaceae, Euphorbiaceae, 

 Jloya, Ap07'uellia, Hemigraphis, Colens, Conocephalus, Laportea, Oheronia, Fhaias, 

 Calanthe, Acanthephippium, Plocoglottis, Saccolahium, Cypripedium, Curculigu, 

 Bioscorea, Burmannia, Gi/mnosiphon, Forresila, Sustim, all the palms except one or two 

 Mhich ascended a little higher, Freycinelia, Aroids, Cyperus, Hypolytra, Thysanolcena, 

 Leptaspis, Lopliatlieruw , and Centotheca. Typically Papuan genera were Dictyoneuru, 

 Antiaropsis, Faradaya, Ridleyella, and Eurycentrum. 



Tapeinospenna (New Caledonia), Bourchardatia, and Chorizandra are typically 

 Australian, and Juiicus alone represents the Pakearctic flora so abundant at higher 

 altitudes. 



(3) The Frontal 3Ioimtatn-belt. — Between Camps VI a and X is situated the frontal 

 mountain-belt ; plants were obtained in it np to a height of 6300 ft., but it has summits 

 rising another 5000ft., so that the collections maybe taken to represent the lower 

 portion of the forested mountain-zone of the frontal range. 



Here the Begonia and Balsam region extended from the slopes above Camp VIII 

 to those beyond Camp IX, from 3000 to 6500 ft. Tiie highest cultivated plots 

 were seen in this region at 6000 ft., but on the less steep slopes of Mt. Venus, at 

 7000 and 8000 ft., cleared ground was seen in the distance. The cultivated plants were 

 plantains, Colocasia, sugar-cane, ginger, and tobacco. Pew weeds of cultivation were 

 brought back by Mr. Kloss, but one might include as such Oxalis corniculata. Nastur- 

 tium indicum, Cardiospermum Halicacabum, Crepis japonica, Dichrocephala, Ocimum, 

 Kyllinga, Paspaliim, Eleusine, and some other grasses and sedges. 



Characteristic of this zone were two species of Viola, Dry mar ia, Hypericum, Ecodia, 

 Astilbe, Cremnohates (a new genus of Legnotidae), (Enanthe, Palmeria, Lebregeasia, 

 Focephyllum, Ei^ica, Epiblastus (ascending to 8000 ft.), Coelogyne, Tieniophyllum, Smilaoc, 

 Dianella, Pollia, Scirpus chinensis, Fmperata, Saccharum, and IschcBmum. Dodoncea, 

 usually a sea-shore or often sandy-country plant, was met with here, and rattans 

 ceased at 4000 ft. elevation. Here it might be noticed that the Malayan element 

 had much diminished and a considerable admixture of Palaearctic forms commenced 

 to appear, viz., Hypericum, Qiuanthe, Galium, Gnaphalium, Viola, Lysimachia, and 

 Banunculus. 



