(3) üSTENb'KM). PLANTS COLLKCTKD IN THK RAHENG DISTRICT, UPPER SUM 711 



waler (I h;ive not personally observed this). Hut in (he stony, nigged 

 lowland almost all of (he trees are without foliage during 2-4 months. 

 Only along natural streams and the like trees with foliage are to be found 

 all the year around. Many different species are in bloom immediately 

 before the commencement of the rainy period, before or together with 

 the shooting of the leaves. Especially noteworthy at this period are the 

 woody Papilionaceæ, the Liliifloræ. the Araceæ. and the Orchids. Of this 

 tropical or subtropical flora nothing has been collected by me, as my 

 time at this season was very busy. 



« In the proper rainy period llie flowering plants are few and incon- 

 spicuous; green in every variety of shade predominates. The rapidity and 

 luxuriance of growth after the first showers and heat is phenomenal. 

 Moisture and shadiness are the main life-conditions for the bottomvege- 

 lation. Even though a number of species flower during the entire rainy 

 period, one does not notice many flowers at that time of the year. But 

 against fall, when the rain ceases, a number of species bloom and bear 

 fruit. At this time a very rich flora of herbes and half-bushes prevails, 

 whose home, judging by their habitus, very w-ell might have been in a 

 more temperate region. It is of this flora, as it normally presents itself 

 in December, and occasionally even in January, that I have collected my 

 material. 1 have taken almost everything, which may be found flowering 

 and fruiting within this very limited territory, at any case every species 

 occurring commonly and in greater numbers. 



« The collection ought consequently to give a rather correct idea of the 

 herbaceous flora in a short period of the year, and within a very limited 

 district, viz. : the autumnal bottom vegetation in more or less luxu- 

 riant lowland-forests, moreover a number of plants from cleared spaces. 



« The vegetation on the sandbanks in the river was at this period not 

 yet properly developed. It frequently does not reach a full development 

 before spring; but also of this vegetation I have collected some few 

 species. 



« "When all is faded, the underwood commences to burn, and continues 

 so with intervals, while the faU of the leaves gradually advances: January, 

 February and March. 



« It is quite an exception when any part of the forest escapes the fire. 

 The government takes absolutely no precautions against the fire, such 

 as done in Burma. Villages and solitary houses burn an open space around 

 them as soon as it may be done, as the fire otherwise, if a storm sets in, 

 very easily may devour an entire village. » — 



