492 



PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL REMARKS. 



assumed to be far too small, on account of the great difficulty of distin- 

 guishing the species in some groups, for which reason a number of species 

 were not dealt with and left out in the systematic part, while by the great 

 uniformity of the flowers specific differences often escape the attention of 

 the collector. The Rubiaceae certainly form a much more important part 

 of the vegetation than is expressed by this figure. 



The Euphorbiaceae also belong to the large orders. The 54 species 

 mentioned will probably not give an exact idea of their occurrence compared 

 with other orders. Of this the smalness of the flowers is probably the 

 cause, so that many specimens are not noticed by the collectors. 



The Piperaceae with 45 species belong partly to the wood plants 

 (Piper), partly to the epiphytes (Peperomia). Here also the number of endemic 

 species is extremely large. 



The Compositae with 47 species are very meagrely represented, taking 

 into account the number of known species of this family, a phenomenon 

 which is met with, however, in the whole lower part of the South-American 

 tropical continent. 



The Bignoniaceae with 40 species, of which 8 are endemic, are mostly 

 high climbers, inhabiting the edge of the primitive wood. Not a smal 

 number occure in savanahs, however. As trees (Tecoma) they play a much 

 less important part in the vegetation. Also the Convolvulaceae are mostly 

 riparian plants, sometimes high climbers (Impomoea, Maripa), sometimes 

 low climbers (Aniseia). Also of this family some species inhabit dry spots. 

 The Malvaceae are only exceptionally inhabitants of the wood. Some species 

 of Hibiscus occur preferably in very wet places along the river banks Most 

 species, however, are true savannah plants or occur on open spots, along 

 roads, etc. 



A rather important place is occupied by the Apocynaceae. About their 

 occurrence little general can be said, for they are as well trees, as climbers, 

 while no small part of them occurs as shrubs in the primitive wood. 



The Araceae draw our attention by the large number known in Surinam 

 (39), among which no less than 12 endemic ones. 



On the other hand one is struck by the small number of Myrtaceae. 

 Here also, as was the case with the Rubiaceae, this must be ascribed to 

 the great mutual resemblance of the flowers and to the difficulty of deter- 

 mining the specimens. They occur especially as low trees in savannahs and 

 along the rivers. 



Of the Lauraceae only 22 species are known in Surinam, a number 

 which certainly is far too small. They are mostly large trees and to this 

 circumstance their being so little known must be principally ascribed. Besides 

 the great uniformity of the flowers makes that only completely collected 

 specimens can be determined, with certainty. 



The Palms which occupy such an important place in the vegetation, 

 are rather conspicuous by the large number of the specimens than by the 



