3O THE FLORA OF SINGAPORE. 
cee. It is perhaps worth noting that very few of these are 
to be found in Wallich’s collection made in 1822, showing that 
in all probability they were introduced at a later date Among 
these weeds one or two are interesting as not occurring in India, 
such are Clitoria cajanifolia, and Cleome aculeata, both South 
American plants, which also occur as weeds in Java, whence 
probably they were carried accidentally to Singapore. 
The flora geographically speaking is typically Malayan, and 
resembles as might be expected that of Johore, and to a certain 
extent that of the neighbouring coast of Sumatra. A few plants 
occurring here are as far as is known endemic, but it is probable 
that most will be re-discovered in the neighbouring countries, 
when they are more thoroughly explored. These endemic 
plants not known to occur elsewhere are marked with a *. 
The absence of certain plants common in the peninsula is some- 
what remarkable, such are Kurya acuminata and Grewia umbel- 
lata, and there are several striking plants to be found on the 
neighbouring islands, and on the coast of Johore, especially near 
Tanjong Kupang, which are quite absent from our flora. Of the 
native flora it will be noticed that the greater number of plants 
are either trees or shrubs, herbaceous plants being comparative- 
ly scarce in the forests, and chiefly to be found in the open 
country in the sandy district of the coast. Those of the forest 
region being usually epiphytes, orchids, Piperaceae, or Scita- 
mineae, aroids, grasses and sedges, with a few saprophytes. 
The most extensively represented orders here are those of 
the Euphobiacew, Urticacew, Rubiacee and Orchidee. The 
variety of the latter will surprise many residents who have pro- 
bably seen not more than one or two species growing wild here, 
but the fact that these plants are very local and frequently 
occur on the upper branches of the loftiest trees, where they 
are difficult to see and to obtain, accounts for their being so 
often overlooked. The largest genera are those of the Figs 
(/icus) and nutmeg: (Myristica). 
Asin most equatorial regions, the number of species in 
proportion to the number of individuals is very large. A Malay 
jungle consists of innumerable trees, shrubs and climbers, all 
apparently distinct, and individuals of any one species occurring 
singly here and there, often very far apart, so that these forests 
