887 



ceus, Ricinus communis, of which the two varieties, one with red and 

 the other with pale veins to the leaves, appear never to be found 

 intermixed. Verbena officinalis, Capsella Bursa-pastoris, a Galium 

 closely allied to G. aparine, Rumicis sp,, Plumbago zeylanica, Loch- 

 nera vincoides, Physalis pubescens, Bothriospermum tenellum, Peda- 

 lium murex, Dysosmia foetida, Mucuna macrobotrys, nob., and Cerbera 

 odollam. 



The sylvan Flora consists of seven or eight species of oak, amongst 

 which is a most beautiful one (Quercus Eyrei, mihi), belonging to the 

 section Chlamydobalanus of Endlicher, and nearly allied to Q. cuspi- 

 data, Sieb. 8f Zncc, which, however, it excels in all respects, Liquid- 

 ambar, Synaedrys ossea, the fruit of which, resembling the chestnut in 

 taste, is sold in the markets, an elegant Styrax, Acer, Camellia japo- 

 nica, and two others, Vaccinium, Cyminosma resinosa, five or six 

 species of Euonymus, Aquilaria chinensis, mild, Memecylon, an 

 extremely handsome Castanea, Rhodoleia formosa, Calauma pumila, 

 Artabotrys, the graceful Melaleuca-like Phoberos saevus, mihi, and 

 P. chinensis. Piper arcuatum, two species of Elaeocarpus, Rhapis 

 flabelliformis, Hiptage madablota, the sweet-scented SchoBpfia sinen- 

 sis, &c. At the foot of the hills, on the slopes of which these woods 

 occur, are ravines, whereof the sides are in some places formed by 

 steep rocks, the humid, shady ledges of which are clothed by the 

 lovely Chirita sinensis, an exquisite Cypripedium, Renanthera coc- 

 cinea, Pholidota imbricata, and a few others. Higher up, and in 

 sheltered localities, these woods become in some parts much denser, 

 and assume a far more tropical aspect, as is indicated by the great 

 abundance of Lycopodia, and the appearance of Cibotium glaucum, 

 Neottopteris nidus, and Psilotum triquetrum ; whilst the trunks of the 

 trees are clothed by a climbing, large, glossy-headed Anthurium, and 

 the epiphytal Niphobolus pertusus. 



At or near the summits of the diflferent peaks, where, from altitude 

 and the free exposure to both monsoons, the temperature is much 

 lower than on the flanks of the hills, a difference of as much as 10** 

 existing in the summer season, the Flora has a more European cha- 

 racter. It compries the pretty, but scentless, Viola tenuis, Lonicera, 

 Clematis, Polygala Loureirii, Polyspora axillaris, the lovely Enkyan- 

 thus reticulatus, the " new-year flower" of the Chinese, Phaius gran- 

 diflorus, Rhododendron squamatum and R. indicum (the latter so 

 profuse a flowerer, that it looks, at a distance, when brought into relief 

 by the dusky sides of the rocks, or the dry grass, like a bush of fire), 

 the azure Exacum bellum, replacing our gentians, Torenia asiatica, 



