CEYLON. 37 



surmounted by large masses of verdant fronds to an elevation 

 often of 20 feet, and rivalling in gracefulness tlie Palms of the 

 low country. It is in this range that the lovely tree Rhodo- 

 dendron, which is so common in more elevated tracts, first makes 

 its appearance. The Pattanas at this elevation are more spongy 

 in their nature than those below, the grasses which are peculiar 

 to them grow more closely together, and are smaller and more 

 wiry in their texture ; while the shrubs which are scattered 

 through them are principally species of Hedyotis and Osbeckia, 

 the latter producing beautiful large rose-coloured flowers. 



The 2000 feet which succeed to these include the most elevated 

 portions of the island, and embrace chiefly the mountain-tops, 

 and the valleys or plains which divide them from each other. 

 The vegetation of this region has still a more alpine aspect than 

 the preceding one, and of all the others is that which is possessed 

 of the greatest interest to the botanist, from the great number of 

 European forms that are mixed up with those whose range does 

 not extend beyond the tropics. The tree that first claims atten- 

 tion in this range is the Rhododendron, not only from its great 

 beauty, but from its vast abundance, especially in the open 

 plains, which during the months of June and July are clouded 

 with red from the great profusion of its blossoms. I have met 

 witii two well-marked varieties, if they are not, indeed, distinct 

 species of this tree. One of them is principally met with in the 

 plains or in tiieir wooded margins, and is easily recognised by 

 the rusty-coloured under side of its leaves. This is the variety 

 which is so common on the open plains of the Neelgherry range 

 of mountains in the peninsula of India. The other variety, so 

 far as 1 am aware, is peculiar to Ceylon, and is always found 

 in the forest, and at a greater elevation than the other. It is 

 distinguished by its greater size, and the silvery under side of its 

 leaves, which are besides narrow and rounded at the base, not 

 broad and cordate as in the other. Several fine trees of this 

 variety occur on the ascent of Pedrotalagalla from Newera-Eilia, 

 and close to the temple on the summit of Adam's Peak ; but the 

 finest I have met with in my excursions among the mountains of 

 the interior, was in crossing over Totapella, where there is a 

 large forest of them, many of which are from 50 to 70 feet high, 

 and with stems more than 3 feet in diameter. In these forests 

 are also to be met Mithsome four or five species of Michelia, the 

 representatives of the I\Iagnolias of North America, several 

 arboreous Myrtaceae, and not a few Ternstromiacete, the most 

 common of which is tlie Camellia-like Gordonia zeylanica. 



There is much here to remind the European of his native 

 country. DitFerent species of llubus and a Barberry abound 

 along the wooded margins of the plains, as well as two species 

 of Viburnum or Guelder Rose, and a shrubby St. John's Wort 



