33 



2 y3. Dwarfed Intermediate Mossy Forest. 



A lateral spur from the S.W. ridge to the lake bounding the southern 

 part of the marsh to the north, bore rather a spaced xerophytic type of small 

 forest, on the edge of which the undergrowth between the small trees and 

 shrubs was very thick; here the ferns * Dryottaekyum splendens and the delicate 

 *Pcesia radula, only known from Sumatra, Selaginella aiigustiramea, with 

 deltoid fronds up to '50 m., and Phaius flavus var. papuanus were collected. 



Of the small stunted trees about *3 m. high, those in flower were Pipturus 

 jxtpuanus, Gibbsia insignit, * Gloc hidion A/errillii, only known from the 

 Philippines, Homalanthits arfakiensis, * Dodontra visvosa, Acronyc/iia papuana, 

 and the very abundant Medinilla Forbesii, with white and pink flowers 

 in cauline fascicles up the bare grey nodose stems. Lnzuriaga aspericanlis 

 twining, the moss Taxithelium giibstigmosum, * ffumata pusilla, *Polypodium 

 fcuriaturri, P. scabristipes, and Glomera similis, the latter with small white 

 flowers, were epiphytic on the trunks and upper branches of the small trees. 



c. SLOPES OF KOKBKE MOUNTAIN. 



I did not work over the Alfuero " kebuns," which were dotted with a 

 Pandanus sp., * Dodoncea viscosa, clumps of *Rubus ylomeratus and *R. rosce- 

 folius, also masses of the handsome cream-Howered *Riedelia lanata, about 

 3 m. high, Wedelia bi flora and flydrocotyle javanica, the latter spreading on 

 the ground. 



2 a. Intermediate Mossy Forest, 7000-7500'. 



Crossing a stream we entered a dry type of intermediate mossy forest 

 with trees of about 13 m., where, as undergrowth, *Asplenium scandens, a 

 green orcliid Microstylis grandiflonts, small erect plants of Symbegonia parvi- 

 folia, with red foliage and pink flowers, and Riedelia exalata, with yellow 

 and red flowers, about 1 in. high, were collected. The typicnl coniferous 

 seedlings of the region abounded as usual, with the undershrubs Shefflera 

 arfakensis and the white Medinilla arfakensis, the epiphytic D. ayaiho- 

 dcemonis, I), curvimentum, and J3ulbophyllum pristit. 



With increase in altitude the forest becomes smaller, though still dry in 

 type, the trees being less erect and more branched in habit. 



2 . Dwarfed Intermediate Mossy Forest, 7500-8500'. 

 '/'richomanes palliduni, Dryopteris villosipts, * Lindsay a rigida, Davallia 

 Schlec/tteri, Poly podium argyropus, *7 J . serratodentatum, * Vittaria crassi- 

 folia, *Psilotum flaccidum, Piper pilosulinodum, and Henslowia crassifolia 

 with minute fleshy-green leaves and twining ends to the branches, were 

 collected as epiphytes. In an open space a group of young trees of Libo- 

 cedrus arfakensis, about 30 m. in height, with graceful branches sweeping 



