GENERAL CHARACTER OF TEE FLORA. 



Parganahs. Referring to the increased humidity of the top 

 of Parasnath (in Hazaribagh), Sir J. D. Hooker says " Of 

 plants eminently typical of a moister atmosphere I may 

 mention the genera Bulbophyllum, Begonia, Aeginetia, 

 Dispornm, Roxburghia, Panax, -Eugenia, Myrsine, ferns, 

 mosses, and foliaceons lichens ; which appeared in strange 

 association with such dry-climate genera as Kalanchce, 

 Pterospermum, and the dwarf palm, Phoenix. Add to this 

 list the Berberis asiatica, Clematis nutans, Thalictmm 

 glyphocarpum, 27 grasses, Cardamine, etc., and the mountain 

 top presents a mixture of the plants of a damp hot, a dry hot 

 and of a temperate climate, in fairly balanced proportions." 

 Of the strictly Peninsular Flora, Walsura piscidia from 

 Koderma has hitherto only been known from south of the 

 Godavery, and Nauclea purpurea from south of the Mahanadi. 

 The influence of the soil is, as usual, much less marked 

 khan that due to slight differences of climate. Soil is, however, 

 3hiefly accountable for the distribution of the Khair (Acacia 

 Catechu) and Carissa. These occur over a very large area in 

 Hazaribagh, Manbhum, and Palamau, chiefly on those rocks 

 which yield a sandy soil such as the sandstones, quartziies, 

 and horneblende gneiss. It is not always easy to say, 

 however, how far the prevalence of these species is due to 

 the soil alone. In parts of Palamau there is little doubt that 

 human agency (including in this category fires, cattle-grazing, 

 etc.) has favoured the Khair as against the Sal as, where 

 the forests are protected, the Sal again tends to oust the 

 Khair. Sal, probably, once reached the edge of the laterite 

 plateau which extends into Midnapur. Its absence in many 

 cases is almost certainly due to extermination, while its 

 companion, the Mohwa (Bassia latifolia), has survived, 

 according to the rule that timber trees are more liable to 

 extermination than fruit trees. Its absence in many low- 

 lying tracts is, on the other hand, due to edaphic factors, 

 and it is also very frequently scarce or absent on some forms 

 of trap and limestone. Gardenia gummifera is almost con- 

 fined to clay schists. 



30 



