4G6 Botanical Notes, [No. 5. 



scanty soil in all directions, in large masses. The plants conse- 

 quently growing at this spot, are for the most part, the same as 

 those which are found on similar rocks near to and even north of 

 Moulmein, and which are not found anywhere but on these rocks. 

 Such are Cycas circinalis, two species of Draco3?ia, -and what I take 

 to be a species of Caralluma, though I have never seen the flower. 

 Near Moulmein, one would have to climb the rocks to a consider- 

 able height to find these plants, while here they are gathered with- 

 out climbing, the general rise of the country being about equivalent 

 to the height at which they grow there. 



This is a most interesting spot to a Botanist, abounding with a 

 number of curious plants, and well deserving a longer stay than 

 we could afibrd, only two or three hours. A want of water for 

 men and elephants, in the dry season, makes it necessary to push 

 on beyond it. A profusion of orchids grow on the rocks, and on 

 the small stunted trees (chiefly Uugenias) that cover the rocks. 

 I gathered here the first Cypripedium I had met with in the coun- 

 try, Dendrobium clavatum, D.forinosum, D. teres in abundance, also 

 two or three other terete-\enve& orchids of different genera, one a 

 Cymbidium, and one I think an Aerides, with a number of smaller 

 sorts. 



Thonzoo is a wild desolate spot, with more of open country about 

 it, than we had as yet seen. The jungle is thin, composed chiefly 

 of Dillenia, Carey a, Erythrina, Eugenia, and a species of Diptero- 

 carpus, all of which are stunted and weather-beaten from exposure 

 to the S. W. Monsoon, to the full force of which this spot is open. 

 The few plants mentioned as gathered here all grow within the 

 space of a few hundred yards. I had no time for more than the 

 most cursory examination of this place, and this was done at mid- 

 day, when the heat of the sun reflected from the rocks was intense. 

 Judging from what I gathered in the time, and from the numerous 

 dried remains of herbaceous plants, I fancy that a rich harvest 

 would be reaped here by a Botanist, who should visit it during the 

 rainy season, or immediately after its close. Ct/peracece appeared 

 especially numerous, and other bog plants would probably be found 

 in abundance, as I noticed here (for the first time in the provinces) 

 patches of genuine black spongy peat-soil iu the hollows, which still 

 retained moisture ; no trace, however, of Sphagnum could be detected.- 



