GENERAL CHARACTER OF TEE FLORA. 



Ischaemum angustifolium (Sabai grass) and Andropogon 

 contortus (Spear grass). On the other hand, by the scarcity 

 of such common sab-Himalayan associates of the Sal as 

 Dillenia pentagyna and indica, Carey a arborea and herbacea, 

 Stereospermum chelonoides, and Sterculia villosa ; and by 

 the complete absence in a wild state of all Cupuliferao and 

 Conifer®, of Sissu and of Teak. 



A second characteristic feature, or group of features, is 

 the abundance of individuals of Rubiaceae, notably of the 

 genera Gardenia and Wendlandia (all the other Bengal 

 species of Gardenia are confined to Chittagong), of Acantha- 

 ceae, Bauhinia spp., Diospyros spp., Terminalia spp., Zizyphus 

 spp., Cleistanthas collinus, Nyctanthes, iEgle Marmelos, and 

 of the bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus. 



Dillenia pentagyna, so common an associate of Sal in the 

 Sub-Himalayas east of the 80th meridian, is in Chota 

 Nagpur largely replaced by D. aurea, which appears to Lave 

 been repeatedly couf used with the former when in leaf, and 

 with Cochlospermum when in flower. Dillenia aurea is a 

 characteristic species and extends into the Karakpur Hills, 

 which, as already remarked, might well have been included 

 in this flora. 



The Anonaceae are fairly well represented, as also are the 

 small families Menispermaceae (5 spp.), Capparidaceae (8 spp.), 

 Polygalaceae (6 spp.), Combretaceae (10 spp.) and Lythraceae 

 (10 spp.). The families of Urticaceae, Magnolia ceae. Ranun- 

 culacese, Cruciferae, Guttiferae, Ternstroemiaceae, Rosaceae, 

 Umbelliferae, and Lauraceaa are poorly represented both in 

 species and individuals. 



Following the method pursued to characterize the 

 "Botanical provinces in the sketch of the Flora of British India 

 (prepared by Sir J. D. Hooker for the new edition of the 

 Imperial Gazetteer), the approximate number of species in 

 the dominant orders or families is given below : — 



Graminese 150. 



32 



