108 
Nauclea purpuracens Korth, Melochia umbellata Stapf; Trema 
amboinensis, Pipturus incanus Wedd., Villebrunnea rubescens B1.; 
some of the specimeas so robust that one would certainly have 
assigned an older age than 36 years to them if one had not 
known the history of the island. It was a peculiar kind of 
virgin forest such as is rare in Java, since it was made up 
many by individuals representing but few species. Epiphytic 
ferns grew everywhere a. 0. good-sized Asplenium nidus L, This 
also was remarkable, because Backer mentions that epiphytes 
were still rare in 1908. I succeeded in getting about 50 plants. 
But at an altitude of some 300 feet my way was blocked by 
an absolutely unscalable precipice, carpeted with nothing but 
ferns and composed of loose layers of earth. The great variety 
of mushrooms and teadstools vegetating on the fallen treeboles 
was very striking, the more so as Ernst only mentions two of 
these. I also found several new species of ground-orchids, a. 0. 
Habenaria spec, Eulophia macrostachya Lindl., Nervillia Aragoana 
Gaud. The species most abundantly represented at the time of 
former explorations, Arundina speciosa Lindl., and Spathoglottis 
plicata Bl. now proved to have bony ousted by the ape 
ding forest. 
April 26th. was set apart for the ascent to the top. Though 
it did not promise great chances of success it had never the 
less to be attempted, and the scramble was undertaken by 
_ myself accompanied by Mr. Hanpet Jr., my native plant-collector 
and two of Mr. Barrets’ coolies who were expert hill-men. 
The climb began in real earnest about 7,30. Climbing and falling, 
stumbling and sliding back the first steeps were conquered. 
_ There were parts where one had to clamber up along tree-roots, 
S and the disagreeble thing was not only the loose quality of the 
soil but also the moist heat that prevailed in the densely grown 
- ravine. Water was no where to be had; so we had to fall 
Le back on our water-flasks which of course held but a very in- 
_ adequate supply. Such steep acclivities, sometimes amounting 
= than 30°/, are usually found only in the higher moun- 
_ tain-regions heeds aa cooler isi renders the ascent less 
_Krakat sgh however the —_ = pecans, 
