THE FLORA OF MAHABLESHWAR AND MATHERAN. 109 



still be seeu that very many of the plants included in the 

 Catalogue are common to the two hills. Such a coincidence is 

 favoured by the similarity of their geological formation and by the 

 circumstance that there is no great difference in the range of their 

 mean temperature at different seasons and in their rainfall. Both 

 Mahableshwar and Matheran are, roughly speaking, huge masses of 

 trap, capped by a thin layer of laterite. Both are within sight of the 

 sea. Both are swept by the same dry winds in the cold weather and 

 by the same monsoon storms, and both enjoy the full benefit of the 

 monsoon rains. The average mean temperature ranges at Mahablesh- 

 war from 64° F. to 76°; and from 69° to 78° at Matheran. The 

 average rainfall at Mahableshwar amounts to 263 inches ; and at 

 Matheran to 242 inches. Under such concordant influences, we 

 find a general likeness in the forms of vegetation on the two hills, 

 due to the frequent presence of the same characteristic plants on 

 both. Everywhere at Mahableshwar, as at Matheran, we find the 

 Myrtle tribe represented by endless woods of the beautiful 

 Jambul tree (Eugenia Jambolana), the Melastomas by the Anjan 

 {Memecylon edule), the Laurels by the Pisa (Actinodaphne Hookeri), 

 and the Madder tribe by the thorny Gela ( Randia dumetorum) . There 

 is the same undergrowth of shrubs and herbaceous plants, the 

 natural orders of " Legunrinosse," " Acanthaceae " and" Compositae " 

 being especially and numerously represented. There are many showy 

 climbers and trailers and creepers common to both hills ; as there are 

 Orchids and Dendrobiums and other parasitic plants ; while everywhere 

 the little Silver-fern covers with equal impartiality every sheltered bank 

 and rock. The flora of both Mahableshwar and Matheran can, there- 

 fore, be conveniently included in a single Catalogue. In the present 

 Catalogue, which contains the names of 493 plants, while the former 

 one contained only 218 names, I have included a few plants which 

 are not actually found on either hill, but which are conspicuous 

 enough to catch the eye of even the most rapid traveller on the 

 well-worn road from Poona, by the Kartraj and Khandala Ghats, to 

 Panchgani and Mahableshwar. I could never have prepared so full 

 a list without Dr. Cooke's help. He has kindly lent me his valuable 

 Monograph on the Flora of Mahableshwar, of which I have 

 endeavoured to make good use. He has also revised the proof- 

 sheets of these pages, and added notes, where necessary. It only 

 remains for me to add that this Catalogue is framed on the same gene- 

 ral plan as the former one, and with the same object. It is meant, 



