504 SPHINGIDJE. 



Gaertn., Premna integrifolia Linn., ^Vitex negundo Linn. 

 (Verbenaceae), Anacardium occidentale Linn., the cashew-nut 

 tree (Anacardiaceae), Calophyllum inophyllum. Linn., locally 

 known as Undi (Guttiferae), and the convolvulaceous goat's- 

 foot creeper Ipomsea biloba Forsk. ; Cassytha filiformis Linn., 

 of the Laurineae, is also common, a leafless, yellowish, 

 thin-stemmed parasite infesting Premna and Ipomsea, &c. 



The vegetation in Kanara is mainly of the Malayan type. 

 Below the Ghats on the coast, on the Ghats themselves, and 

 for some distance eastward it is altogether so. On the eastern 

 boundaries it is of the Deccan type, passing gradually into the 

 Malayan westwards. The Malayan type is largely evergreen 

 and semi-evergreen, the trees being often very large both in 

 height and circumference. The Deccan vegetation is com- 

 posed of deciduous species, and the trees are much smaller. 

 The main characteristics of the Malayan forest area are a heavy 

 rainfall and laterite soil with a strong admixture of granite. 



The evergreen forest is generally found above 1,000 feet 

 elevation, all below that is semi -evergreen or deciduous. 

 The evergreen type is more extensive in the southern half of 

 the district than in the northern ; in the lower foot-hills along 

 the coast the forest is deciduous, though there maybe a slight 

 mixture of evergreen species along the streams and in the 

 moister valleys. The crest of the Ghats is all evergreen, 

 and this type of vegetation reaches well to the east as long as 

 the hills, valleys and streams continue. The evergreen 

 forests are characterized by very large trees, many reaching 

 200 feet in height, dense undergrowth, canes, ferns and various 

 species of palms. Among the timber-trees we get Diptero- 

 carpus turbinates Gaertn., several species of Calophyllum 

 (Guttiferae), Cedrela toona Roxb., the toon, of the Meliaceae ; 

 many members of the families Myrtaceae, Ebenaceae (ebony) 

 and Laurineae (laurels) ; various figs and jackfruit-trees 

 (Urticaceae) ; these are the most conspicuous. The underwood 

 is largely composed of Murray a Linn., Glycosmis Corr. 

 (Rutaceae) ; cinnamon, Litssea Lamk., Actinodaphne Nees 

 (Laurineae), and gregarious Psychotria Linn, of various species ; 

 Chasalia curviflora Thw. and many species oilxora (Rubiaceae). 

 Herbaceous and semi-herbaceous species are represented by 

 various Acanthaceae, climbing peppers, orchids, arums, 

 Zinziberaceae and ferns. 



In the Malayan type of deciduous forests there are very 

 large trees of the families Meliaceae (Amoora Roxb., Chikrassia 

 tabularis (Adr. Jussieu) ; Sapindaceae (Schleichera Willd. and 

 Sapindis Linn.) ; Anacardiaceae (the wild mango and 

 Spondias Linn., the hog-plum, Holigarna Ham., &c.) ; 

 Leguminosae (Dalbergia Linn., Bauhinia Linn., Xylia Benth., 

 Albizzia Durazz) ; Datiscaceae (Tetrameles nudiflora R. Br.) ; 



