BY THE REV. J. E. TET^ISON-WOODS. 29 



due to introduction. It divides the beauties of the still waters 

 in Malaysia with NymphcEa, a large blue, yellow or red-flowered 

 water-lily even bigger than Nelumbiumy easily distinguished by 

 the cluster of stamens in the middle Its leaves float in the 

 water, and they are recognised by their very long stalks, which 

 are much sought after in North Australia by the natives as an 

 article of food. So is the root of the plant also, and even the 

 Malays make use of it. All that might be said about this flower 

 may be guessed in saying that it is the Lotus of the ancients. 



Sometimes the open forest is dry and rocky with out-crops 

 of Laterite. This supports a somewhat difierent flora such as 

 Malotus philippinensis and M. javanica, Cinnamomurn spurium, 

 Fagrcea peregrina, several species of Eugenia^ Ficus, Mcesa (a 

 large genus of Myrsine^ belonging to Africa, Asia, and Aus- 

 tralia), Phyllanthus emhlica^ a feathery-leaved small tree with 

 conspicuous green acid fruits, Sinclora siamensis (1), a tree with 

 one-seeded indehiscent spiny pods borne on long pedicels. There 

 are several species of Myristica or wild Nutmeg, notably a long- 

 leaved form with a thick brown tomentum (M. sesquipedalia). 

 Adinandra dumosa is a common and handsome tree of the tea 

 family. 



River Vegetation. — This is the richest portion of the forest 

 lands and supports a dense growth of trees. It would require a 

 long list to describe this flora. On the banks of even the small 

 creeks I have seen the finest trees, and the undergrowth is so dense 

 that daylight scarcely penetrates. The common trees are Ficus 

 (many), Dipterocarpe^e including Shorea, Hopea, Vatica, Arto- 

 carpus (many), Gastania, Castanojysis, and plentifully, Rhodamnia 

 trinervia, Cratoxylon polyanthurti (one of the St. John's Worts), 

 Evodia roxhurghiana, Ixonanthes icosandra, Phyllanthus superhus, 

 Elceocarpus (several), Canarium (two or three), Oommeo^sortia 

 echinafa, Vitex trifoliata, Macaranga tanarius, Pithecolohiuin 

 (several), Maba ebenus, Diospyros /ruticosus, Alstonia macrophylla , 

 A. scholaris. The last named is seen quite as frequently on the 

 grassy plains where it lifts its head as a conspicuous straight stem, 



