THE PALAEOTROPICS 



There is greater variety in soil conditions than in west Java, 

 and this results in a greater variety of forest trees. 



In parts of east Java are extensive teak forests, almosl pure 

 stands of this important timber-tree. In the dry season the 

 forest is quite leafless, and offers the strongest contrast to the 

 exuberant luxuriance of the western rain-forest. There are 

 some evergreen species associated with the teak, e. g., Albiz. 

 stipulata, Butea frondosa, the latter, as in India, conspicuous 

 for its showy red flowers. The deciduous forest is almost des- 

 titute of epiphytes, but some species of Ficus occur which begin 

 life as epiphytes upon the teak and other deciduous trees. 



A number of lianas, mostly Leguminosae, occur, and there 

 is a rich growth of shrubs and small bushes, some with showy 

 flowers like species of Cassia and Hibiscus. Palms and bam- 

 boos are comparatively scarce. 



Where conditions permit an accumulation of humus, some 

 of the rain-forest herbaceous plants, like the gingers (Curcuma, 

 Amomum, etc.), and others with showy flowers, may be seen, 

 and flowers in general are more noticeable than in the rain- 

 forest, owing to the more abundant light. The display is great- 

 est at the monsoon rains in November, before the new foliage 

 appears on the deciduous trees. 



Krakatau 



A very instructive demonstration of the rapid development 

 of vegetation under equatorial conditions is shown by the re- 

 establishment of vegetation on the island of Krakatau which 

 was blown up by the tremendous explosion of its volcanic crater 

 in 1883. Life of all kinds was completely destroyed, and what 

 was left of the island was buried deep in volcanic ashes. Kra- 

 katau lies in the Straits of Sunda, midway between .Java and 



Sumatra. 



The first visit made to Krakatau after the catastrophe, was by 

 Professor M. Treub, director of the Buitenzorg garden. This waa 

 three years after the eruption, but by this time about a dozen 

 species of ferns were well established, together with a considerable 

 number of flowering plants. 



The writer 1 had an opportunity of visiting the island twenty 

 i "The New Flora of Krakatau," American Naturalist, Vol. XLIII, August, 1909. 



