The Forests of the Philippines. 593 



laurifolia, Symplocos sp., Ternstroemia toquain, are some of the 

 principal trees, only a few of which are lovmd lower down. All 

 of these trees are usually dwarfed in appearance, seldom reach- 

 ing a height of more than 20 meters (65 feet), and usually not 

 over 5 meters (15 feet). The trunks and branches are generally 

 covered with mosses, liverworts, filmy ferns, and epiphytic or- 

 chids. The open places are usually occupied with ferns, and some- 

 times with grass. Tree ferns occur on the slopes within the 

 forests, and on some steep slopes give a decided character to the 

 vegetation. Rattans and other climbers, especially Pandanacese, 

 are common, as are also small erect palms. Few mountains in 

 the Philippine Islands attain a height of more than 2,000 meters 

 (6560 feet). In general, the vegetation at such altitudes is much 

 more dwarfed; in some cases, good-sized trees are found, even at 

 high elevations ; on others, no tree vegetation occurs at all. 



