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Irois Forest is situated in what is called the Cedros district of Trmidad, 

 which forms a peninsula, jutting out westward, about forty miles long ; the part 

 visited is situated some sixteen miles in a direct line from the most westerly 

 point. 



The coast line at this place is devoted to the cultivation of coconuts, and the 

 land in many places is very swampy, the streams all contain more or less of the 

 mangrove, Bhizophora manfjle. 



The vegetation of the highwoods (as the forest is called) to one who sees it 

 for the first time, is marvellous, and baffles adequate description. 



The foliage of the iimumerable huge trees forms a continuous canopy, so 

 dense overhead as to be almost impervious to the sun's rays, and the whole mass 

 is entwined, tangled, and bound together by immense lianes, or climbing stems, 

 which stretch away in all directions, and eventually force their way through into 

 the light above, in which position alone their flowers are produced. The com- 

 monest tree met with on the first day was the "Mora," Mora excelsa, which 

 seemed particiilarly well fitted, on account of its great height and vigour, for the 

 fierce though silent struggle for existence; the ground beneath the "Mora" 

 trees was thickly strewn with its seeds and from them had sprung up quite a 

 muiiature forest of seedling plants. Another giant seen in goodly number was 

 the "Silk Cotton tree," Eriodendron anfractuosum. Over one of these grew a 

 plant of Noranlta (juianensis bearing huge masses of flowers, which, waving in 

 mid air under a tropical sun, resembled flames of fire. The " Cashew Nut," 

 Anacardimn occidentah, was seen near the edge of the forest which was fringed 

 with the well-known " Razor Grass," Sderia, which has proved a serious impedi- 

 ment to many a collector. The " Momitain Rose" {Rosa del Monte), Brownea 

 latifolia, was to be seen on the banks of the streams, and in this situation the 

 " Timite" or " Bussu," Manicaria saccifera, a very beautiful palm, was plentiful. 

 It contrasted strangely with the bolder dark green " Cocorite Palm," Maximiliana 

 carihcea, a plant which was not so numerous. The " Chataine," Pachira insignis, 

 was also noticed. The part of the forest traversed on the second day was not so 

 dense as that examined on the fii'st day. The two districts are divided by a 

 small road running across the peninsula to Chatham, on the opposite side from 

 the point whence we started on our collecting trip, a distance of some five miles. 

 It is curious to note that we did not find a single specimen of Mora excelsa in this 

 part, and 1 was told by natives who knew the district that the tree was never 

 seen except on the Cedros side of this road. The " Anai-i Palm," Prestcea 2>ubi- 

 gera, was very common, good walking sticks are made from its stems. A single 

 specimen of the "Canon Ball tree," Couroupita gmanensis, was seen, and a species 

 of Bactris with long spines was also plentiful and decidedly troublesome to my 

 guide, who went barefoot all the time. The "Hog Plum," Spondias graveoleiid 

 was very common, and large stretches of Spatliiphyllum cannifolium formed a 

 delightful picture on the edges of the forest. 



The ferns were varied and beautiful, and orchids were plentiful on the upper 

 branches of the huge trees. Amongst those noticed were Epidendrum, Oncidium, 

 Oongora, Coryanthes. Plewofhallis, Rodriguezia, Stanhopea. 



The Sacoglottis was found fairly common on the second day, whilst on the 

 first we met with but one example, though the quantity of fruits seen proved it 

 to be more plentiful. On leaving the forest on the second day, we crossed a 

 piece of land on which the timber had all been felled. One of the trees was a 

 Sacoglottis, and bore a quantity of half developed fruits with some leaves ; I 

 learnt on enquiry that the land had been cleared during the previous October. It 

 is probable that the trees will be found in the full flowering stage in May or June. 



WM. LUNT, 

 March 16th, 1896. Assistant Superintendent. 



Since furnishing the above report I was again instructed to visit the same 

 district. I started on June 4th and returned on June 6th. 



The trees were foimd without much difficulty ; but the first few met with 

 were too far advanced to fuinish good herbarium material, but I eventually 

 discovered one which was in an ideal condition, and from it obtained ample 

 material for the purpose which led to the expedition, namely, the proper identifi- 

 cation of the source of one of the drift fruits found on the shores of the West 

 Indian islands. 



