( 38 ) 



hmeens, IlypoxU minor, Disporum sp., Sarcopyramk nepalemis, Jmticia caloneura, Brandini 

 and sometimes quadrifaria, and others. 



Of terrestrial ferns occur Polystichmn acu/eattim, Davallia immerm and nodosa, Pterk 

 hi-and qvadriaurita, Anplenium ensi/olium, Qymnogramme ellipticum, Diacalpc OKpidioides, two 

 species of Sclnginella, etc. 



The plants creeping or trailing round the stems of trees are chiefly Piperaceae, Aroidea, 

 (especially Scindapstis and Pothos), Lygodium pinnatifidum and polydachyum, Acrodichum 

 scaudeiis etc. 



Orchids are seldom seen here, for they have retreated to some extent to the upper parts 

 of trees. Mosses and scalemosses cover most of the stems in dense patches, along with Hyme 

 nophylla, Vittaria and Poh/podium, Antrophium, etc. as also Cyrtandracew, etc. On account 

 of the darkness, lichens are again rare, but epiphyllous lichens along with epiphyllous scale- 

 mosses overgrow the leaves of shrubs, etc., that often show the same bluish metallic lustre, 

 which is seen in the tropical forests. 



The above sketch of these damp hill-forests does not give a correct description of them, but 

 comprises only the results of observations made during a short run through them. A proper 

 exploration of these forests would take as many months as I have spent hours in them. 



BB. Leafshedding Forests. 



The leafshedding or deciduous forests are the most important to a forester in Burma, 

 for they yield the most valuable timber trees of the country. They are quite or nearly quite 

 leafless during the dry seasons, but many of the trees put out their young leaves long 

 before the rains set in. The shedding of leaves of the various trees is also not simul- 

 taneous, nor does this phenomenon take place at precisely the same period in each of the 

 four zones, but sets in later in damper climates. Junglefires are in all these forests more 

 or less regular and re-occur often in the same year. The varieties of these forests is great, and 

 the demarcation between those varieties often very obsolete. However the three chief varieties, 

 where they present themselves in a pure character, are well marked, and the impression 

 which an " Eng-dein" (Eng forest) produces is not easily to be forgotten. 



These three chief classes of leaf-shedding forests are the open forests, the mixed forests and 

 the dry-forests. 



5. Open Forests. 



The open or diluvial forests comprise nearly all those forests, which grow chiefly on diluvial 

 formations, such as laterite, gravelly soil, rocky debris and even stiff clay or loam, especially 

 when resting on impermeable substrata. These forests are to a botanist the most interesting 

 amongst the leaf-shedding forests, as they abound in novelties and in plants peculiar to them 

 alone. Practically they appear as dry and more or less stunted and crooked forests, at present 

 of little value to a forester, except the Eng tree which gives a valuable wood. Tlie soil is 

 usually unsuitable or nearly so for rice cultivation, but wherever but a comparatively thin layer 

 of clay or loam overlies the laterite, rice, I am informed, does grow beautifully and gives a 60 

 to 70-fold harvest. 



As the trees which grow here stand far from each other, these forests are very open and 

 sunny and the vision is not hindered by large undergrowth or climbers, for the latter are 

 reduced to a few species, which often lose their climbing habits to a great extent, owing 

 to dryness and quantity of light. 



I have distinguished them into the three following kinds, viz. 



A. Hill Eng forests, which are not represented in Pegu, but are frequent in the east of 

 Sittang, on rocky debris and laterite, that cover the lower ridges there. 



B. Eng or Laterite forests, so called from a species of woodoil tree (Eng), that is 

 peculiar to them. 



C. Low forests, which much resemble the former but are usually destitute of Eng trees, 

 and ofl'er other peculiarities. 



A. Hill Eng forests. These forests stand in a certain relation to the drier hill-forests, 

 and transition from the one to the other occurs sometimes. They grow chiefly amongst debris 

 of metamorphic and schistose rocks, but also on hill-laterite, on all the lower outspurs of the 

 Martaban hills towards and along the Sittang river up to 2,000 feet elevation. They resemble 

 the Eng Forests lower down, so much, that in external appearance, they are identical with 

 them. A number of trees and other plants, are, however, found in them, which though they 

 make a distinction will 1 fear after a longer exploration of transitional forests finally reduce 

 this variety of forests to a simple modification of Eng forests. There are many difficulties 

 with which one lias to struggle in classifying forests, and it is only after long experience that 

 the true characteristic features of a variety of forest can be fixed. I cannot but quote here 

 Dr. Brandis' own words (Selections of Government of India, No. XXXII. litport on Attaran 

 forests for 18f50, p. 37) relative to these difficulties : " Hesitation therefore in submitting reports 

 on a subject (character of forests) the very principles of whicii have yet to be deve- 

 loped may appear excusable. Their investigation unavoidably involves many questions of 



