252 THE JOURNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



Epiphytes are prominent in this region. They consist mostly of 

 mosses, ferns and orchids. The six or eight species of opiphytio 

 orchids seem rather more abundant in the Bauhinia forest. Their 

 blossoming period is mainly during the dry or the early part of the 

 rainy season when the trees are relative devoid of foliage. As they 

 have entomophilous flowers this habit seems especially appropriate. 

 The ferns and mosses are more abundant on the oak, the rough 

 shaggy bark of which furnishes them a better lodging than do the 

 more smooth-barked trees of the Bauhinia woods. Frequently associa- 

 ted with them is Peperomia reflexa, a curious member of the Pipera- 

 ceae. Lichens are abundant and often conspicuous, particularly on 

 the oak. Still they are less in evidence than in the more humid 

 forests of higher altitudes where several long thread-like Usnea 

 species abound. A lichen was found growing on a leaf of an evergreen 

 Machilus at Sal Tal. 



Parasites of the Loranthaceae are wide-spread, there being three 

 species of Viscum and two species of Loranthus in the neighborhood. 

 The oak is one of the most affected trees, but we find Viscum album 

 on the willow and some of the species on still other trees. Cuscuta 

 reflexa, a dodder widely distributed over India, is found here. 



Aechmanthera tomentosa is an interesting undershrub, related to 

 Strobilanthes. It is found in all three of the forest types but 

 is almost confined to the east side of the valley. It has the peculia- 

 rity of blooming only at long intervals, the common report is every 

 twelfth year. Mr. Evans reports it as having bloomed profusely in 

 1907 and again in 1919. When it blooms it gives a gorgeous purple 

 tinge to the whole landscape. After blooming it dies and the next 

 crop comes from the seed. 



Species of Woody Plants Observed. 



Bauhinia Forest. Combretaceae 



Acanthaceaa Terminalia belerica Retz. 

 Aechmanthera tomentosa Nees. )t tomentosa W. and A. 



Anacardiaceae 

 Odina wodier Roxb. Compositae 



Pistacia integerrima Stewart. Blumea aromatica DC. 



Araliaceae Leucomeris spectabilis Don. 



Heptopleurum venulosum Seem. Euphorbiaccae 



Heteropanax fragrans Seem. 



Bixaceae 



Bridelia montana Willd. 

 Euphorbia Royleana Bois 

 Flacourtia Ramontchi L' Herit. Flueggia microcarpa Blume. 



Burseraceae Glochidon velutinum Wight. 



Garuga pinnata Roxb. Mallotus philippinensis Muell. 



Celastraceae Phyllanthus Emblica L. 



Celastrus paniculata Willd. Sapiuni insigne Benth. 



