252 



FLORA INDICA. 



vegetation almost identical with that of Java. The surface, 

 except where clearances have been made by man, is covered 

 with a shady forest, rendered almost impenetrable by a dense 

 jungle of rattan (Calamus), a genus which attains its maxi- 

 mum development in the Malayan region. Erect palms are also 

 very numerous ; chiefly of the genera Areca, Arenga, Licuala, 

 Cocos, Corypha, and Sagus. On the coast, Nipa covers im- 



mense 



Aracece 



epiphytical 



sist chiefly of gigantic Terebinthacece, Sapindacece, Meliacece, 

 Garciniacea, Dipterocarpece, Ternstrcemiacece, Leguminosce, 



Myrtacece 



Dilleni- 



acece, nutmegs, Sapotacea, including Isonandra Gutta (the 

 gutta-percha plant) , and Anonacea, form an unusually large 

 proportion of the flora. Podocarpus, Dacrydium, and Dam- 

 mar a are the only conifers, but there are several species of 

 Gnetum and of Cycas. On the higher hills a few species of 

 Gaultheria, Rhododendron, Vaccinia, and other plants of the 

 sub-temperate zone, indicate the commencement of that rich 

 and varied flora which covers the middle and upper parts of 



found 



the temperate Sikkim Himalaya. 



occur 



the forests of the Malayan Peninsula, may be mentioned 

 Grammatopkyllum, the most gigantic Orchid known, Kibara, 

 many Nepenthes, several curious genera of Aristolochite, as 

 Thottia, Lobbia, and Asiphonia, anomalous Burmannice, many 

 Antidesmea, including Eremostachys and Phytocrenece, as 

 lodes, Cardiopteris, and Phytocrene itself, many singular Ola- 

 cinece, Santalacete, Loranthacem, Menispermece, etc. The cul- 

 tivated fruits are the mangosteen, durian, and nutmeg, none of 

 which thrive elsewhere in India ; with many varieties of Citrus 



and pine-apple. 



great 



same as those of Pegu and the Sunderbunds, but there arc 

 more species of mangrove and of palms. Enhalus and other 



oceanic Caulmim occur beneath high-water mark. The ftp- 



