CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 



Introduction 5 



The Physical Features of the Rain-forest Region 7 



General Climatology of the Rain-forest Region 10 



Air Temperature 10 



Nocturnal Terrestrial Radiation 11 



Soil Temperature 12 



Humidity and Fog 13 



Rainfall 13 



Sunshine and Cloudiness 16 



Wind 17 



The Flora of the Rain-forest 18 



The Vegetation of the Rain-forest 22 



Ecological Characteristics of the Rain-forest 22 



Habitat Distinctions in the Rain-forest 26 



Windward Ravines 28 



Windward Slopes 31 



Leeward Ravines 32 



Leeward Slopes 33 



The Ridges 35 



The Peaks 37 



Epiphytes 38 



The Relation of Physical Conditions to Habitat Distinctions in the Rain-forest .... 41 



Humidity ^ 44 



Evaporation 46 



Air Temperature 48 



Soil Temperature , 49 



Seasonal Behavior of the Rain-forest Vegetation 51 



Rate of Growth in Rain-forest Plants 55 



Transpiration Behavior of Rain-forest Plants 59 



Methods and Material 59 



Daily March of Transpiration 62 



Individual Variability of Transpiration Rate 72 



Concurrent Rates of Transpiration in Different Species 73 



Relative Transpiration 76 



Comparison of Relative Transpiration Rates in Rain-forest and Desert Plants ... 82 



Relative Amoimts of Stomatal and Cuticular Transpiration 87 



Stomatal Behavior 91 



Influence of Darkness on Transpiration 99 



Influence of High Humidity on Transpiration 102 



General Conclusions 106 



3 



