14 



with tall herbs. As a rule the smaller herbaceous flora is scanty, 

 but varies considerably according to the amount of light that is per- 

 mitted through the canopy. Often under a well-closed canopy there 

 are no herbs at all, and the ground surface is clear. Of the aerial or 

 epiphytic flora little is known, the felling of a tree or the chance break- 

 ing of a branch, affording the only material from which this flora may 

 be examined, and from this there seems no doubt that there is a wealth 

 of Orchidacece, FilicinecB, and similar herbs. 



The tree canopy itself may be divided into three tiers, each charac- 

 terised by its own species, whilst a fourth lower tier includes the 

 smallest trees and biggest shrubs. 



In the highest tier, which in the Evergreen Forest is a closed canopy, 

 the most conspicuous tree, both by its size and the frequency of its 

 occurrence, is the Eriodendron anfractuosttm (Silk Cotton Tree). 

 Second to it in size, and not quite so common, are the species of Mimu- 

 sops (Baku), whilst other trees attaining the height of the topmost 

 canopy are the Meliacece [Khaya, Entandrophragma) . 



In the main canopy, which comprises the second tier, is found the 

 majority of the trees. The canopy is closed and so interlaced with the 

 woody lianes that the felling of a tree is a difficulty. From the 

 floristic composition given below it will be seen that the Leguminosce 

 contribute a large proportion of the species. With one or two 

 exceptions all trees have a good height growth, often 80 feet to the 

 first branch, and their trunks have fine form figures, the chief exceptions 

 being Afrormosia laxiflora, the Jedua {Ficus sp.) and Freibli (a species 

 of Flacourtiacece) . Except in the case of marshy localities these trees 

 extend continuously, irrespective of soil or altitude, within the limits 

 of the Evergreen Forest. 



The trees comprising the third tier of the arboreal flora are character- 

 istic of it and do not appear to aspire to greater height growth even 

 when given the opportunity. The most typical of these are Pentadesma 

 buiyracea, and Allanhlackia floribunda. The height of these trees is 

 generally from 30 to 40 feet, and their crowns can easily be seen from 

 below, whereas the crowns of higher trees are hidden in the tangled 

 mass of the canopy above. 



The lowermost tier is occupied by species which may be considered 

 as trees or shrubs according to their form and height growth which 

 varies from 10 to 20 feet. These species range over the same areas 

 as the above, and are generally found around farms and cleared patches, 

 and are the first representatives in the formation of secondary forestry. 

 Musanga Smithii, Myrianthus arbor eus and Conopharyngia spp. are 

 typical representatives. 



The remainder of the flora, as a rule, consists of shrubs, which in 

 some of their forms incUne to an herbaceous habit. Its floristic com- 



