292 OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



The shrubs for the most part belonged to the mainly tropical 

 families Malpighiaceae, Melastomaceae and Rubiaceae. To the 

 latter belonged an undetermined shrub with a profusion of large 

 rose-colored flowers. A butterfly-pea (Clitoria sp.) with large 

 purple flowers, was also common. 



The outstanding feature of this savanna was a noble fan-palm 

 (Mauritia flcxuosa) which formed groves of considerable extent. 



Surrounding the savanna was a forest occupying rather dry 

 soil, and traversed by clear streams, but with areas of boggy 

 soil. Palms were abundant as an undergrowth, and a very interest- 

 ing plant was a sort of wild banana (Ravenala Guianensis) much 

 resembling its congener the traveller's tree of Madagascar. Ferns 

 were more abundant than in the forest about Paramaribo, but 

 still played a very subordinate role in the vegetation. 



One of the common trees of this forest is the "Balata" (Mimu- 

 sops sp.) belonging to the Sapotaceae. This yields a rubber of 

 fair quality, but much inferior to the Para rubber. 



The writer was struck with the abundance of showy flowers in 

 the neighborhood of Paramaribo, a rather unusual condition in 

 the wet tropics. The showy climbers have already been noted, 

 and were especially abundant. A rose-red passion-flower, and the 

 big golden bells of an Allamanda (Apocynaceae), were truly 

 magnificent, and many of the shrubs, Leguminosae, Rubiaceae, 

 Melastomaceae, Malphighiaceae, bore very abundant and showy 

 flowers. 



Of the herbaceous plants perhaps the most notable were the very 

 common Heliconias, looking somewhat like Cannas, or the larger 

 species like bananas. The brilliant scarlet and yellow bracts of 

 the flower clusters are extremely showy. Red and yellow Cannas 

 were also very abundant, and wild ginger (Costus sp.) and arrow- 

 root (Maranta spp.) were common and handsome forms, and with 

 these were growing Caladiums with gayly painted arrow-shaped 

 leaves. 



This brilliant floral display was seen at the edge of the forest, 

 and in open places, such as railway embankments, which were 

 veritable flower gardens. Red and yellow milkweed, weedy Com- 

 positae and Verbenaceae were everywhere common. 



