32 



the ground, rocks, and sub-stage trees were strewn. Araucaria and Libo- 

 cedrus seedling plants in all stages of growth, Dawsonia gigantea in giant 

 clumps nestling between the depressions of the rocks with the fern * Poly- 

 podium Feei (also as epiphyte), constituted most of the scattered undergrowth ; 

 while Trichomanes aphlebioides, the peculiar Dend^mtmpapuanum, identical 

 with Scirpus nodosa Rottb. in habit and appearance showing the samo pin- 

 -' point white flowers, Psychotria sp., near P. sarmentosa, were collected as 

 epiphytes, *Lyc,opodium casuarinoides draping some slender under-trees. 



This forest originally extended to the banks of the lake, which here rise 

 steeply from the water, but had recently been burnt off for about 10 m. 

 from it, the exposed surface of sandy soil being covered with the upgrowth 

 of Bracken with Lactuca prolLva, and underneath * Marcliantia polt/morpha, 

 the moss *f 1 unaria calvescens, *Epipogum nutans, and on a steep sandy 

 bank Dendrobium trifolium, with quaint red and greenish flowers, and _D. sub- 

 radiatum, a mass of small white ones, were found, both probably originally 

 epiphytic on some of the burnt fallen trees. 



3. Mossy Forest. 



The western slopes of the S.W. ridge, descending steeply to the marsh, 

 were clothed in a small dense mossy forest about 7 m. high, of which the 

 moss-grown logs and roots of trees inhibited most undergrowth, except a 

 slender tree-fern about 1 m.faigh. The standing trees were draped in moss, 

 Calamus arfakianus and the climbing Bamboo often veiling the upper parts. 

 There was little in flower beyond the epiphytic ^Dendrobium glauco-viride 

 and Sericolea arfakensis, with hanging shoots and pink flowers. 



This forest ran out on to the marsh through much rotten wood and boggy 

 areas, the latter gay with the beautiful white, pink-veined flowers of Iin- 

 patiens Herzogii with reddish stems and leaves, forming a long level spinney 

 towards the lake, where, with the increase in the size of the trees, the 

 distinctive mossy character was gradually lost. 



Small clumps of Dacrydium novo-guineense and Podocarpus papuanus 

 marked the edge of this spinney, single crowns of Kentia Gibbsiana rising 

 above the general forest level. In the lower portion nearest the lake Phaius 

 ftavus var. arfakensis, Symbegonia arfakensis with white flowers and bracts, 

 the trea-fern Alsoplrila angiensis and a very common Pandanus, both isolated 

 and gregarious, up to 13 m., high, with branched and unbranched steins, only 

 the ( flowers being found. Young plants of the Kentia also abounded in 

 this undergrowth, which included *Rubus glomeratus with red acid berries, 

 Rhododendron Vonroemeri,nnd Solarium Gibbsece, the latter a semi-herbaceous 

 spreading shrub, about 1 in. high, covered with straight yellow thorns and 

 with small mauve flowers. 



*Lycopodium volubile formed a dense mass on trees up to 1 m., and a 

 Dendrobium sp. grew thickly up to the same height in a tangled mass like 

 a small Bamboo, the yellow-green flowers in pairs, unfortunately over. 



