290. BOTANICAL NOTES. 



tion is scanty, and tliere are but few trees. A binding weed and 

 more than one species of Ipomcea loosely cover a surface composed 

 almost entirely of calca- eons sand, broken shells, coral debris, and 

 pumice pebbles ; and it is on such an unproductive soil that two or 

 more species of Pandanus and Casuarina angustifolia flourish. 

 Here at the margin of the beach may be seen in profusion the tail 

 composite shrub, Wedelza biflora, and another common shrub, Sccevola 

 Koinigii. Two climbing peas prefer the sandy soil in this situation, 

 one with yellow flowers, Vigna lutea, and the other with pink 

 flowers, Canavalia turgida ; whilst a dense growth of Flagellaria 

 indica often conceals from view any rocky slope overlooking tha 

 beach. Just within the line of vegetation immediately bordering thfr 

 beach, the following trees commonly occur, Ochrosia parvijiora 

 ('' ]iokosola "), Heritiera Uttoralis (" pipilusu "'), Terminalia catappa 

 (" saori "), Ci/cas circinalis, and one or more species of Pandanus. 

 Here also a species of Crinum (the " jjapau " of the natives) and the 

 Tacca pinnatifida (" mamago ") may be usually found. (I hoped to 

 have referred to the ferns of such a coral islet ; but my endeavours 

 to obtain any information of my collection have been unavailing). 



On the lee side of such an islet, which is the oldest portion of its 

 surface, the vegetation is much denser and of a different character. 

 Here, the trees form a thick belt, their branches overhangi.ng the 

 rising tide. Those of most frequent occurrence are, Barringtonia 

 speciosa, Calophyllwn inopjhyllum, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Thespesia 

 populnc%, Gudtarda Kjyeciosa, MoriJida citrifolia, Cerhera Odollam,. 

 Pungamia glabra, Tourneforiia argentea, and other The trunks of 

 the larger trees often lean over the beach or lie partly" procumbent on 

 the santl. Amongst the foliage of these coast trees, many of which 

 liave large conspicuous flowers, climbing asclepiads of the gentis 

 Boi/a with their equally conspicuous flowers may be frequently 

 observed. Orchids, often of considerable beauty, hang from the^ 

 reclinino- trunks of the trees. Here, as in the case of the coasts 

 of the large islands, we perceive how pleasant is the contrast which 

 the littoral vegetation presents when compared with the gloomy and 

 apparently flowerless forests, where the tallest trees possess but an 

 inconspicuous gi-eenish inflorescence. 



In the interior of such a coral islet, huge banyans and other trees 

 having wide-spreading buttresses are to be found. Many of them 

 attain a height of 150 feet and upwards, and afford a home to num- 

 bers of fruit-eating pigeons which largely sub.sist on their fruits, and 



