vi] CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOREST 



In these seed distribution is ensured by means of the wind, by birds, 

 or by other animals. In this group undoubtedly come all epiphytes, 

 so abundant amongst the high branches of the great forest trees, and 

 so tantalising to the botanist who cannot collect them when circum- 

 stances oblige him to travel hastily through the forest. The same 

 may be said of climbing plants, for although in many cases their 

 flowers may actually grow along the stem, their foliage usually 

 twists and climbs high up amongst the trees, rendering it often 

 impossible for the passing collector to get specimens. For these 

 and other reasons a complete investigation of the forest flora is 

 not possible during cursory excursions. One way of overcoming 

 such difficulties is to get information of spots where clearings 

 for industrial or agricultural purposes are being made in the 

 forest ; one can then easily superintend the operations of tree- 

 felling and select such specimens as may prove interesting, taking 

 advantage, naturally, of the flowering season. Another way — the 

 one which I usually adopted — is to go into the forest with a party 

 of natives, good climbers and wood-cutters, and direct the collection 

 of such specimens as are wanted ; but for such work plenty of time 

 is required, and it cannot be got through hurriedly. For these 

 reasons, then, I resolved to build a hut on Mattang, where I could 

 remain sufficiently long for a thorough investigation of the local 

 flora. 



Our route round the base of the mountain was a varied one. In 

 the dips and valleys the vegetation was unusually thick and matted 

 on account of the great number of rotangs. In places where water 

 accumulated the number of species was greater than elsewhere, and 

 the shade was of the densest. Not the slenderest sun-ray penetrated 

 the mass of vegetation. Here shrubs with long slender stems were 

 frequent, literally covered with mosses, Hepaticae, and small ferns, 

 chiefly Hyrnenophyllacece. But one peculiarity which could not 

 fail to strike the botanist in the kind of forest which I have attempted 

 to describe, is the quantity of cryptogamic growths living on the 

 green and growing leaves of the shrubs and bushes forming the under- 

 growth. Almost every leaf, even those of herbaceous plants, is 

 covered with minute Hepaticae, lichens, mosses, and fungi. 



Near a small stream we met with several specimens of a very tall 

 palm, a species of " nibong " (Oncosperma horrida, Griff.) usually 

 known in Sarawak by the name of "lammakor." It has 

 amidst its central fronds a " cabbage," which is excellent eating. 

 The Malays call this part, which is also edible in other palms, " um- 

 but." As we were rather short of provisions anything of the kind 

 we could procure in the jungle was very welcome, and we cut down 

 the tree to utilise its cabbage. It was 118 ft. in height, and the 

 stem alone from the ground-level to the insertion of the first frond 

 was 102 ft. 



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