Chap. Ill] MOUNTAIN REGIONS IN THE TROPICS 



729 



xerophilous leaves (Photinia integrifolia, Fig. 425, Coprosma sundana, 

 Fig. 428, Vaccinium myrtoides, Fig. 427), also ill-smelling woody Gna- 

 phalieae (Anaphalis sp. nov.) with dense coatings of woolly hair. Nearly all 

 the plants at the time of my visit (February) were richly covered with 

 flowers. 



The vegetation on the summits of the high mountains of Java, in spite 

 of the moderate altitude, exhibits the essential characters of alpine vege- 

 tation — arrest of tree-growth with the assumption of the elfin-wood form 



Fig. 426. Alpine flora of Java. Gentiana quadrifaria. i, 2. growing in sunlight ; 3. growing 

 in shade. Summit of Widodaren, East Java. Natural size. 



and its absolute disappearance as the altitude increases, marked shortening 

 of axes, increase in the root-system, rich production of flowers, xerophilous 

 structure. 



The tree-limit here lies considerably lower than on many other tropical 

 mountains. This is very instructive, as it shows that the tree-limit is inde- 

 pendent of low temperature. The malformed habit of the trees commences 

 simultaneously with the severance of the mountain mass into cones, and 

 is associated with the consequent increased movement of the air. Around 

 such exposed cones there is nearly always blowing a strong wind, the effects 

 of which on the topmost stunted trees are revealed in the numerous dry 

 branches. Under shelter from the wind, as on the inner margin of the 

 old crater of Pangerango, tree-growth is rich, though still low, at an 



