HAi\ II] PERIODIC I'lIENOMlCNA IN THE TROPICS 257 



CEYLON. 



MEAN TEMPERATURES IN CENTIGRADE. 

 (After W'oeikof, Die Klimate der Erde, I. p. 379.) 



It may be seen, here as in Java, tliat the influence of temperature can be 

 Dglected. 



I consider it not unlijvely tliat in Trimen's Flora the 'flowering seasons' repre- 

 ;nt frequently merely the dates of collection of the specimens. Nevertheless 

 ey attest in the clearest manner, especially in woody plants, the favourable 

 flucnce of the dry season, and, indeed, corresponding to the two dry seasons 

 c two maxima of flowering seasons, a larger one in spring, a smaller one late 



the summer. 



The flowering periods, so far as they do not continue throughout the year, are 

 stributed in Ceylon over the different months, as is shown in the following table, 



which tlie figures indicate number of species: — 



CEYLON. 

 DISTRIBUTION OF FLOWERING PERIODS. 



I . Humid District. 

 \. Woody plants . . 



B. Herbaceous plants . 



Jan. 



81 



86 



Feb. 



126 



109 



Mar 



183 



83 



Apr. 



159 



SO 



May 



88 



40 



June 



67 



41 



July 



74 



52 



Aug. 



•Sept.: 



66 



60 



104 



67 



Oct. 



36 



49 



Nov, 



38 



51 



Dec. 



62 



80 



2. Dry District. 

 \. Woody plants . . 



B. Herbaceous plants , 



57 



92 



97 



77 



49 



48 



83 



79 



25 



39 



117 



147 



105 



45 



34 



35 



59 



73 



37 



89 



The three published volumes of the Flora of Ceylon include the Dicotyledones, 

 cept the Euphorbiaceae, Urticaceae, and Cupuliferae. Twenty-five woody plants 

 d seventy-two herbs are given as blossoming throughout the year, but these 

 ;ures are certainly too small. It is indeed not a rare phenomenon in the tropics, 

 at whilst the great majority of individuals of a species are not blossoming, a small 

 !mber are in flower. The seasons of the year are not followed so strictly. In 

 ^orders' careful reports we therefore find a relatively greater number of species 

 at flower throughout the year, but often with the proviso that they blossom chiefly 

 a definite season, usually during the east monsoon. Of 107 Javanese trees 

 ■ated in the first two parts of the book, the flowering seasons of which may be 

 'Hsidered as certainly established, I find 22 stated as blossoming throughout 



HIMrER c 



