FLOWERING SEASON AND CLIMATE. 



705 



" Moist Low- Country Region." 



The same is given graphically in Plate VII. 



Let us first have a look at the graphic representation of the climate 

 and the flowering periods as observed in the " Dry Region" of Ceylon. 

 The flowering times of the woody plants show two distinct maxima, one 

 in February and the other in August. The first one corresponds to the 

 minimum of humidity, to little rainfall and low cloud proportion, whilst 

 the second one is distinguished by similar relations. The influence of 

 the hydrometeors is especially well shown during the last four months 

 of the year, where the curve of the flowering times takes always the 

 opposite direction when compared with the curves of the hydrometeors; 

 it is descending when the curves of rainfall, cloud proportion, and humi- 

 dity are ascending, and it is seen to be ascending as soon as those of the 

 hydrometeors are descending. The curve of flowering times of the 

 herbaceous plants follows more or less closely that of the woody plants. 

 From climatic conditions alone I am not able to explain this fact. 

 There is one difference, however, between the flowering times of the 

 woody and those of the herbaceous plants. The latter reach a compara- 

 tively high percentage in December and January already, i.e., durino- 

 and immediately after the maxima of humidity and rainfall, whilst the 

 woody plants attain their maximum in February only, after a consi- 

 derable decrease in the hydrometeors. 



•Very much the same relations with regard to the flowering season and 

 climate hold good for the " Moist Low-Country Region." The bene- 

 ficial influence of dryness on the processes in the sexual sphere of the 

 woody plants is well shown in March and September. The curve of the 

 flowering periods of the herbaceous plants does not go down so much 



