Chap. V] TROPICAL DISTRICTS WITH DRV SEASONS 



355 



effective, and occasion a richer differentiation in the kind of vegetation 

 covering tlic soil tlian in West Java, where the vegetation appears to be 

 practically dependent on climate onl}'. Particularly in Plast Java there 

 occurs on soil that easily dries up or that is comparatively impervious, 

 the djati-forcst formation, a typical tropuphilous deciduous forest. 



The djati-forcst owes its name to the economically valuable djati-tree, 

 Tectonagrandis— the teak-tree (Fig. 190), which has a wide distribution over 

 :ontinentaI India, yet only in Java forms pure forests in which other trees 

 xcur merely as subsidiary species. The teak-tree is by no means a giant, 

 ither in height or in thickness of stem. It is at most 25 meters high. 

 Its cordate leaves, reminding one of those of Catalpa, are very large, and 

 he violet flowers, that open in the middle of the rainy season, are arranged 

 n pyramidal panicles. The trunk possesses a light coloured bark and is 

 levoid of epiphytes: on the other hand, figs (species of Urostigma) 

 equently colonize the branches. During the dry season (June until 

 October) the teak is quite leafless and displays its new leaves in November 

 i'ith the advent of the west monsoon. 



Cordes has gi\en a detailed description of the oecology and the flora of 

 he natural djati-forest of East Java — artificial teak-forest occurs in West 

 ava, as well as in British India. 

 In contrast with the rain-forest of West Java the appearance of the djati- 

 jrest is very different at different seasons of the year. In August and 

 leptember, at the height of the dry season, the picture the forest presents 

 ; almost wintrj-. The vast majority of the trees, among them especially 

 le teak-tree, arc quite leafless, and the ground is covered by a rustling 

 lyer of their dr_\' leaves, which do not decay until the rainy season. The 

 ees accompanying the teak are more recognizable in the dry season than 

 uring the rains. Acacia leucophloea is known b\' its umbrella-shaped 

 •own ; Albizzia procera by its bark resembling that of birch. Some 

 ees remain green, among them the commonest companion of the teak, 

 utea frondosa, which in contrast with the teak adorns itself at the height 

 the dry season with its large fiery papilionaceous flowers. Evergreen 

 so are the sapindaceous Schleichera trijuga, the mimosaceous Albizzia 

 ipulata, with a regular umbrella-shaped crown, and the fig-trees perched 

 1 the branches of other trees. 



Between the tall trees numerous smaller ones grow, especially Emblica 

 ificinalis, Gaertn., a euphorbiad, also Dillenia aurea, and other plants. 

 'alms are very rare, bamboos occur here and there. Shrubb)- vegetation 

 richly developed and varied. The Lcgiuninosae are specially numerous, 

 r instance Acacia toinentosa, Willd., species of Cassia, Papilionaceae ; but 

 ibiscus Lampas also frequently shows its large yellow flowers. The 

 ines are all thin-stemmed and chiefly Papilionaceae, such as Abrus pre- 

 torius, species ofMucuna, and the like. The herbs vary greatly according 



A a 2 



