285 



g. A comparison between the epiphytic flora of Krakatao and 

 Sebesy can only be made after both islands have been 

 thoroughly investigated by a competent botanist, recogni- 

 zing the plants in loco, and having a keen eye to local 

 circumstances. 



11. Plants witli strong rhizomes such as many Zingiheraceac, Musaceae and Araceae 

 are not at all or but scantily represented on Krakatao. Mr. Docters van 

 Lee u wen found on Krakatao one species of Akicasia and two Zingiberaceae, 

 one of which. Cost us sericeus Rl., is perhaps spread by birds and the other, 

 Gastrochilus panduratum kidl. occurred in the garden of Mr. H a n d I who 

 spent a short time on Krakatao. 



It is true that but few species of Zingiberaceae and Araceae 

 have been found on Krakatao. But some other terrestrial plants with 

 strong rhizomes occur there, as B/echnum orienta/e, Diplozium polypo- 

 dioides and Anglopteris evecte. Nothing is known about the manner 

 in which the arillate seeds of Costus sericeus are dispersed 1 ). This 

 may sometimes be done by animals but it is not probable that 

 birds take an important part in the dispersal, as the seeds are 

 rather soft. Gostroctii/us panduratum, a common plant in many teak- 

 forests, is very frequently cultivated in Javanese gardens for its 

 aromatic roots; the specimen found in the garden of Mr. Handl 

 was doubtless a planted one and of no importance at all for the study 

 of the development of the new flora, as this plant cannot thrive in 

 the grass-jungles and rain-forests of Krakatao. The stay of Mr. Handl 

 on Krakatao was discussed in Chapter X. 



Appendix I to the paper of Mr. Docters van Leeuwen 

 gives of the vascular plants found on Sebesy a list, which is of no 

 importance at all for the study of the renewal of the vegetation of 

 Krakatao. Appendix II records in the first column the plants of 

 Krakatao and Verlaten Eiland, in the second those of Sebesy. The 

 list of plants found on Krakatao and Verlaten Eiland does not mention 

 on which of the two islands the different species were found. It is a 

 mere list of Latin names, nothing more. Nothing is told about habitat, 

 nothing about frequency, nothing about the reproductive organs. 

 About the mode of distribution not a single observation is recorded. 

 In short this list might have been composed by any person 

 who had collected some plants on the islands and had them 

 named by others. For the study of the revegetation-problem it is 

 valueless. 



l ) Cf P . 190, No. 12. 



