9) 
with such trees as Talauma Hodgsoni, Hopea odorata, Garcinia 
cornea, Diospyros sp. and Baccaurea sapida. Here appears Vanilla 
stamensis, which often covers the tree trunks to a height of 50 feet 
or more with its thick leathery looking leaves, and which is known 
to the natives as Ploo chang or the elephant’s betel vine, and also, 
though rarely, a curious leafless orchid, Galeola sp., of which I 
have not yet been able to find good flowering material. 
Where the slope is steep, and on the tops of the spurs, an open 
grassy jungle, similar to the pah paa of the lower slopes, is found 
with Dipterocarpus obtusifolius as the predominant tree ; associated 
with it are several oaks, and a few trees of Pentacme siamensis and 
Shorea obtusa growing to a larger size than on the lower slopes, but 
no Dipterocarpus tuberculatus. There are very few woody climbers, 
but a good many epiphytes, chiefly orchids similar to those found 
in the pah paa below, with the addition of Bulbophyllum nigrescens, 
and Saccolabium fragrans. The soil is usually sand or red clay. 
At about 3000 ft., the upper limits of this jungle, Pinus Khasya is 
first met with. 
Above 3000 ft., and to about 4500 ft., we find the open valleys 
and moderate slopes clothed with an evergreen jungle, recalling the 
European backwood in summer, predominant being a lofty tree, 
Quercus Junghuhnii, with a smooth grey lichen-blotched bole, while, 
to enhance the resemblance, Hypopitys lanuginosa, sc like the 
Hypopitys multiflora of the English woods, is not uncommon on 
humus. The nut of Quercus Junghuhnii, called by the Laos 
“Makan Dohey,” is eaten and greatly esteemed by the natives. 
Other trees found here are Carpinus viminea, Rhododendron 
oxyphyllum and Vaccinium exaristatum. here is a considerable 
undergrowth of small shrubs, such as Pithecololbium glomeriflorum 
and Evodia triphylla, interlaced with Smilax lanceaefolia and other 
weak prickly climbers, large woody climbers being very scarce. 
There are a few herbs, most of them with inconspicuous flowers, 
Arisaema Jacquemontti, Vernonia chinensis and a saprophytic 
Aphyllorchis being the most common. iphytes, mostly ferns, are 
not numerous; a species of Cymbidium is also found. A _ thick 
layer of humus covers the ground, and is usually underlain by red 
clay. 
Near streams, and in narrow valleys this type of jungle gives 
place to a dense evergreen jungle with a great variety of tall trees, 
very few of which I have been able to collect, numerous climbers, 
including a Calamus, and a dense undergrowth, in which a small 
palm, a species of Musa and tall Scitaminads abound. 
At higher altitudes, almost to the summit, 5500 ft., we find again 
an open grassy jungle on the slopes, and here along the crests of 
ridges Pinus Khasya, growing to a large size, is the most noticeable 
tree. Most of the associated trees are small, particularly when 
situated on exposed ridges ; Pieris ovalifolia, Helicia erratica and a 
small oak, are the commonest of these trees. e meet with two 
trees here, Phyllanthus emblica and Anneslea fragrans, also found in 
the pah paa of the lower slopes, and at least one herb from that jungle 
reappears here, Polygala triphylla. Scattered among the grass are 
small shrubs with bright flowers, Desmodium oblongum and Osbeckia 
