THE MALAY PENINSULA. 279 



luxuriant flora. In the granite areas weathering goes down deep, 

 and in consequence on steep slopes serious landshps easily occur, 

 especially after heavy rain. 



Climate. — The temperature is equable ; at sea level it ranges 

 between 70 and 90 degrees, with an average of 80. The rainfall 

 averages about 100 inches, but it varies much, being heavier in 

 the hills than on low ground. There is not much seasonal 

 difference in this respect. Snow and frost are unknown. 



Communications. — The settlements and the Federated States 

 have a good system of roads, except Penang. There are 3,000 

 miles of metalled roads and 949 miles of railways. 



2. Types of Fokests. 



With the exception of a few areas in Kedah, the forests are 

 evergreen. A distinction is made between littoral and inland 

 forests. 



Littoral Forests. — Mangrove swamps cover over 300 square 

 miles, chiefly on the west coast ; they consist of species of 

 Rhyzophora, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Avicenia, Heritiera, Afzelia and 

 also Nipafruticans. 



Casuarina equisetifolia is found in belts on sand near the coast ; 

 it reproduces itself naturally and grows very rapidly, reaching a 

 height of 120 feet and a girth of 4^ feet. Other coast forests 

 contain Hibiscus tiliaceus, Pongamia glabra, Calophyllum ino- 

 phyllum, Terminalia Catappa and occasionally Podocarpus 

 polystachyus. 



(1) Inland Forests. — Fresh Water Swamps contain species oi 

 Shorea, with Screw pine {Pandanus sp.) in the underwood. 



(2) Dry Forests. 



{a) The Lowland forests frequently contain more than 50 per 

 cent, of Dipterocarps. There are over 100 species of this family 

 in Malaya ; the best known genera are Hopea, SJiorea, Vatica and 

 Petacme. The most important trees are SJiorea materialis, collina 

 and glauca. Hopea Lowii, Borneo camphor {Dryobalanops aroma- 

 tica). Other species of importance are Payena utilis, Eugenia 

 spp., several Lauracece, Afzelia spp., Mesuaferrea, Gutta-percha 

 {Palaquium oblongifolium), &c. The Dipterocarp forest is most 

 imposing ; the top story averages 100 feet high with single trees 

 up to 200 feet, and a thick undergrowth. 



