34 



the ground, were fruiting, like a Thuja, the <$ and ? cones in all stages 

 on separate branches of the same tree. 



At about 8500' the forest again changed gradually in type, becoming- 

 lower and scrubbier, more open, with a denser growth of undershrubs. 



Undergrowth. Diplycosia Liliance reappeared and Vacdnium pilosiftorum, 

 amongst which a stiff Exocarpus sp., with branches up to 1 m. in height, but 

 not in flower, was conspicuous ; Backhousia arfakensis, *Bceckea frutescens, 

 Styplielia nutans var. arfakensis, and Psychotria vaccinioides, from compact 

 shrub to small tree, with huge clumps of *Gahnia psittacorum, 3 m. in 

 height, Gentiana Vanderwateri again favouring damper spots, and M.yrme- 

 doma arfakiana, with large slate-blue flowers, abundant on the trees, were 

 collected at about this level. 



2 7. Shrubberies bordering Crest of Mountain, 8500-9000'. 



On the crest of the mountain the forest passed into shrubberies. Signs 

 of recent burning explained the open character of the summit with scattered 

 trees, which surprised me when seen from the opposite side of the lake, 

 as the altitude is not sufficient to warrant an open formation under 

 the Equator. Dense shrubberies were also isolated in depressions and on 

 raised knolls, all surrounded by a fringe of burnt trees and brandies, which 

 formed a protective screen from subsequent flames. 



On the edge of shrubberies thus exposed, many species were in flower, 

 viz. : * Phyllodadus hypopliyllus, very abundant, Idenburgia novo-gidneensis, 

 a fastigiate tree very like some Drimys sp. in the reddish stems and petioles 

 and white flowers ; also /. arfakensis, more spreading in habit, Drimys 

 Beccariana, Elceocarpus koebrensis, Sericolea novo-guineensis, Spirceanthemum 

 bullatum, in fruit, Pogonantliera liexamera, Backhousia arfakensis, Myrtus 

 koebrensis, Rhododendron angiense, pink, the beautiful white R. Devriesianum, 

 Psychotria vaccinioides. * Histiopteris incisa was sometimes seen underneath, 

 but the growth of the trees in these shrubberies is too dense to admit 

 of much intruding undergrowth ; Tecomantlie volubilis, here in flower, was 

 draped over the trees. 



B. OPEN 1 "OPPORTUNITY" ASSOCIATIONS. 



a. S.W. RIDGE, 7000-8500'. 

 Papuan, Rest- and Camping -places. 



Several open spaces on the broader and higher parts of this ridge are 

 kept open by the Papuans as rest- and camping-grounds. About 20 m. 

 each way in size, with the surface where exposed of hard gravel, sheltered 



1 Gibbs, L. S., "A Contribution to the Flora and PI ant Formations of Mt. Kinabalu and 

 the Highlands of British N. Borneo," Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. xlii. (1914) 19. 



