OF BORNEO. 65 



beautiful species of the genera Ixora and Pavetta, 

 the former with large bunches of flowers of every 

 shade, from orange to crimson, the latter with tufts 

 of pure and delicate white blossoms ; other genera of 

 the order Rubiaceae abound, and are amongst the most 

 beautiful wild plants ; many of these are fragrant. 



Perhaps the most gorgeous of the native plants are the 

 various species of the genus Rhododendron, which here 

 assume a peculiar form, being found epiphytal upon 

 the trunks of trees, as in the genera of the tribe Orchi- 

 dacese. This habit, induced probably by the excessive 

 moisture of the climate, is not, however, confined to the 

 Ericaceous plants, but also prevails with the genera Fa- 

 grea, Combreturn, and many others, usually terrestrial; 

 the roots of the Rhododendrons, instead of being, as 

 with the species, inhabitants of cold climates, small and 

 fibrous, become large and fleshy, winding round the 

 trunks of the forest trees ; the most beautiful one is 

 that which I have named in compliment to Mr. Brooke. 

 Its large heads of flowers are produced in the greatest 

 abundance throughout the year : they much exceed in 

 size that of any known species, frequently being formed 

 of eighteen flowers, which are of all shades, from pale 

 and rich yellow to a rich reddish salmon colour; in 

 the sun, the flowers sparkle with a brilliancy resem- 

 bling that of gold dust. 



Four other species which I discovered are very gor- 

 geous, but of different colours, one being crimson and 

 another red, and the third a rich tint between these 

 two : of the fourth I have not yet seen the flowers. 

 Besides the curious nature of the root above noticed, 



F 



