4 io NATURAL SCIENCE. Dec, 



sub-alpine woods of the Tahan district and of the limestone rocks of 

 Kota Glanggi. 



There is a very marked difference between the floras of Singapore 

 and Pahang. Many plants which are common in the southern part 

 of the Peninsula, and especially the secondary jungle plants, become 

 scarce or disappear in Pahang, while there is a large accession of 

 Bornean types. The latter, Mr. Ridley is inclined to regard rather 

 as the relics of an older flora common to the whole of this region, than 

 as forming part of a distinct Bornean flora. 



The littoral flora was best seen at the mouth of the Pahang River. 

 Above high-water mark on the sandy sea-shore, was a single row of 

 Casuarinas (C. equiseti folia), on the branches of which were many 

 lichens and fungi and a fine orange Lovanthus, which is described as a 

 new species. The ground beneath was carpeted with many grasses 

 and sedges, Ipomoeas, etc. The most striking were the porcupine- 

 grass (Spinifex squarrosus) and a beautiful prostrate, blue-flowered Vitex~ 

 The mangrove-swamps proved less extensive than in most parts of 

 the Peninsula, as, owing to the sandy character of the country, the 

 rivers do not bring down the requisite mud. 



Passing up the river towards the capital, Pekan, one enters a 

 great heath district, consisting of flat, open, sandy country, dotted 

 over with thickets and clumps of bushes, alternating with grassy 

 patches. Here were found many interesting grasses and sedges, 

 and among the bushes or trees Eugenias, Ilex, several figs, and, 

 growing upon them, many ferns and Loranths, and some small 

 orchids. On the right bank of the river at Pekan, the country is 

 more swampy and less sandy, and large tracts are covered with a new 

 species of Sacchanim, and great tufts ot a palm (Licuala spinosa). 

 There are many pools full of lotus, while, in drier places, a Clerodendvon 

 and a small Cvinum abound, and on the river banks dense thickets 

 reach to the water's edge, interspersed with pink- or golden-flowered 

 Cassias, orange and red Bauhinias and clumps of white-flowered 

 Clinogyne. 



The Kota Glanggi limestone rocks in the woods of the island of 

 Tawar afforded a distinct flora, and many good finds, the most 

 important of which were a new genus of Musaceae, one of 

 Rubiaceae, a Trichopus hitherto known only from Ceylon and Southern 

 India, and many new orchids. 



Among the numerous interesting plants found in the woods at the 

 mouth of the Tembeling River, at its union with the Pahang River, was 

 a Brugmansia, the first of that most remarkable of orders, Rafnesiaceae, 

 recorded from the Malay Peninsula. Passing up the river to the 

 valley of the Tahan, a totally distinct flora was observed. Here, the 

 rocky river-banks are clad with a dense forest of trees and shrubs,, 

 most conspicuous of which was a new Dipterocarp, bright with pink 

 fruit or scenting the air with large pinkish, cream flowers, while 

 its boughs were laden with Ccvlogynes, Dendrobiums, and many other 



