318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



in all its parts. It is not difficult to distinouish four distinct regions, 

 each of which is characterized by its particular species. 



There is first of all the Table-land (cf. No. 1 of Map A), marked 

 off from the rest by the entire absence of any tree or shrub. I know 

 there are a few trees along Mount Koad at the entrance of the Table-, 

 land and some fine Rose-bushes and Lantanas on one side of the first 

 tank, but it is evident that all of them, except Lantana camara, did not 

 grow spontaneously. There is very little soil on the hard rock; the 

 water flows off very readily, or collects in a few shallow tanks, and 

 the wind has free access on all sides. The whole is covered with grass 

 into which there are woven the loveliest of tiny flowers. Most of the 

 characteristic plants prefer a gregarious life : there are smaller and 

 bigger patches of a papilionaceous plant with big yellow flowers 

 [SmitMa hirsuta), or of the white delicate Eriocaulon, locally 

 called " Hat-pin, " or again miniature little forests of the purple 

 Dysophylla stellata, var. gracilis, and whole carpets of the " Blue 

 bonnets" {Utricularia). Where the grass is higher we find 

 Aneilema sinicum and Alysicarpus helgaumensis. In rocky places 

 with only a trace of soil the fleshy leaves of Kalatiehoe olivacea, 

 dotted with blood-red spots are seen. In similar localities there 

 occurs a strange-looking little plant with dark, reddish-purple stem 

 and branches Striga orohanchioides. It grows on rocks, and is very 

 often parasitic on the roots of other plants, especially on Asystasla 

 violacea. Together with the reddish-purple variety I found sometimes 

 another one with the stem and leaves yellowish-green and the flowers 

 white instead of pink. Ilabenaria suaveolens is still in flower in several 

 places, though it is one of the first Orchids to appear after the breaking 

 of the monsoon. Justicia trinervia is rather rare. Towards the end of 

 October Sopuhia delpliinifolia and trifida make their appearance. 

 Here we might as well make a short excursion to the " Second Table- 

 land.'' The main features of the vegetation are the same, and the 

 same herbaceous plants cover the ground. If it were not for a few 

 stunted shrubs that grow here and there in small clusters, it would be 

 hard to find any difference between the two plateaux. Caris.sa 

 earandas, Lasiosiphon eriocephahis, Asparagus racemosns, var. ja\ia- 

 nica and Fogostemon paroiflorvs are prevailing. Of Eupliorhia 

 neriifolia 1 met only one specimen, and Hiptage madahlota is leading 

 a poor existence in a well protected crevice of the rock. Somewhat 



