xiv FLORA OF MADRAS. 



flora is characterized by thorny small trees and shrubs with small 

 leaves, such as Dalbergia spinosa, Roxb., Dalbergia coromandelina, 

 Prain, and Acacia planifrons, W. & A. 



IV. The Wet Region ; comprising the coastal tracts and the 

 Western Ghats in the districts of South Kanara, Malabar, Nilgiri, 

 Coimbatore and Tinnevelly, and the Native States of Cochin and 

 Travancore, up to an elevation of about 6,000 feet. 



The flora of this region is particularly diversified and rich, so 

 that a number of sub-regions depending on elevation, aspect and 

 latitude and on the resulting rainfall and temperature define 

 themselves. 



The characteristic species are Hopea parviflora, Bedd., Valeria 

 indica, Linn., and Xylia xylocarpa, Taub. near the coast ; the enor- 

 mous growth of Tectona grandis, Linn., Dalbergia latifolia, Roxb., 

 Pterocarpus Marsupium, Roxb., Terminalia crenulata, Roth., Lager - 

 stroemia lanceolata, Wall., etc., in the moist deciduous forests further 

 away from the coastline, and a host of evergreen species of Guttiferae, 

 Myrtaceae, Rubiaceae, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Orchidaceae and 

 Scitamineae among others in the wet forests higher up the mountains. 

 In the latter are found large tracts covered with a dense growth 

 of the reed-like bamboo, Ochlandra travancorica, Benth., generally 

 along streams, and also a great wealth of mosses and ferns, including 

 several tree-ferns. 



It is in this sub-region that occurs the only indigenous conifer, 

 Podocarpus latifolia, Wall., and the two tree composites, Vernonia 

 monosis, C. B. Clarke, and V. travancorica, Hook. f. 



V. The Alpine Region ; occupying the higher hills of the Nilgiri, 

 Pulney and Anamalais ranges and the higher ranges of Travancore 

 and Tinnevelly above 6,000 ft. 



This tract comprises open grass lands with small alpine plants 

 and bushes. Among them may be cited Parochetus communis, Ham., 

 Hypericum mysorense, DC., numerous species of Impatiens, Olden- 

 landia, Anaphalis, Exacum, Sonerila grandiflora, Wall., and many 

 terrestrial orchids, Arisaemas and Eriocaulons. 



The ravines usually shelter patches of evergreen trees (sholas), 

 among which may be mentioned Rhododendron nilagaricum, Zenk., 

 Syzygium Arnottianum, Walp., and other Myrtaceae, Microtropis 

 spp., Rapanea Wightiana, Mez., Elaeocarpusferrugineus, Wight, and 



