DISTRIBUTION AND UTILIZATION OF THE 
MANGROVE-SWAMPS OF MALAYA. 
BY 
F. W. FOXWORTHY. 
Botanist, Bureau of Science, Manila. 
The mangrove swamps of this region are much more exten- 
sive than has been supposed. They are often credited with 
forming a very narrow fringe along the coast (Karsten in 
Ber. d. D. bot. Gesell., 1890, 49). It is true that this strip is 
often very narrow when compared with the whole extent of 
the landmass of which it forms the outer margin; but the 
strip is often of a width quite considerable. 
Gorse, has best stated the natural conditions of occurrence 
of these swamps. He says: ,Sie findet sich nur da, wo die Kiiste 
flach und nicht felsig ist, sondern ganz allmahlich in den Meeres- 
boden tibergeht, an Stellen also, an denen keine Brandung 
herrscht, und die, wo die Gezeiten stirker hervortreten, von 
der Flut tberspiilt werden, bei Ebbe aber vom Wasser ent- 
blésst sind. Besonders bevorzugt sind die Miindungen der F'liisse, 
den letzteren entlang gehen die Vertreter der Mangroveforma- 
tion auch ins Innere hinein”. (Pflanzenbiologische Schilderun- 
gen, I, 113) 
The composition of these swamps is relatively constant, prac- 
tically the same species being found whether the swamp is in 
East Africa, Ceylon or the Philippines. This fact and the large 
number of individuals of single species, make this formation 
unique among tropical forests. The species making. up the man- 
