648 GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES IN MALAYSIA AND ASIA, 



The genera most numerous in species are, exclusive of the 

 cryptogams, as follows: — Fanicum, 16 ; Ficus, 15; Fimbristylis, 

 13; Ci/perus, 12; Querctis, 10; Folygonum, 9; Carex, 9; 

 Eragrostis, ^ ; Desmodium, 8 ; PhyllantJais, 8. Five genera have 

 seven species each, 10 have six, seven have five, 14 have four, 

 43 have three, 91 have two, and no less than 408 genera have but 

 one species each. This large disproportion of the small genera is 

 one that frequently meets us in floras which are on the borders 

 of several botanical provinces. The cryptogamic floi'a is not so 

 well known. Like all moist climates the ferns are numerous 

 and beautiful, including 13 species of Aspidium and 10 of 

 Asphnium. The ornamental drooping fronds, on every wall and 

 terrace, of Fteris cretica, P. lonyifolla, Gleichenia dichotoma, 

 Adiantum kmidatum, and A. cordatum, make the moss-grown walls 

 of Hong Kong a mass of the prettiest vegetation. The indigenous 

 and introduced ferns of the island have been made the greatest 

 use of for ornamental purposes in the lovely shady walks in and 

 about the city and suburbs of Victoria. 



The moss flora of Hong Kong does not appear, according to 

 Dr. Hance, to be at all rich. He gives a list of 20 species recog- 

 nised up to 1872. 



Some of the remarkable features of the flora of Hong Kong 

 may be summed up as follows: — Rhodoleia championi is a beautiful 

 small tree found only in the island, reseml.>Iing camellia, while 

 the bright jiink petals of the five or six flowers of the head 

 are aiTanged camellia-like. Camellia hongkongensis is another 

 floral beauty of the island. The hillsides are likewise covered 

 ■with bushes of RJwdomyrtus tomentosa with large pink flowers. 

 Enkyanthus quinqueflonts is an elegant shrub with showy red 

 flowers tipped with white. Probably this is the only species 

 known of the genus. Melastoimi repens, M. macrocarpon, and M. 

 decemfidum are three very pretty members of the genus, which 

 cover the hillside with pink flowers nearly all the year round. 

 Ipomcea tuberculata is also spread more or less over the island, 

 flowering <luring the whole year. Dr. Hance says no plant grows 



