52 ACCOUNT OF A TRIP UP THE PAHANG, AND OTHER RIVERS. 



At one spot, among other plants, a new wild plantain 

 was collected, with the flower bracts of a bright yellow instead 

 of either violet or brown as in the two common Peninsular 

 species. 



The entrance to the Tahan River is marked by dense jungle 

 coming down to the water's edge, and the flora here is very 

 different to that of the Tembeling and Pahang Rivers, though 

 some characteristic plants of this region had found their way 

 down the former river for some way. The greater number of 

 novelties found during the expedition were collected in the 

 Tahan valley, among the more interesting of which were a 

 very fine new species of Dipterocarpus {D. pulcherrhnus) a 

 big tree with hard red timber. At the time of our visit it was 

 covered with its pink two-winged fruits. The flowers, which like 

 those of most Dipterocarpi are large and creamy pink with a de- 

 licious fragrancy, were also collected. The well-known "Cham- 

 pedak," {Artocar pus poly phe7nia) is truly wild in these woods. 

 '•Pulawan," {Tristaiiia Whitiand), with corymbs of evil-smel- 

 ling white flowers was another abundant tree. Oaks and nut- 

 megs were comparatively rare. Of palms, '' Ebol" Orania ma- 

 crocladiis BL), "Langkap" ( Arenga obtusiloba Miq.), Caryota 

 viitis Lour^ and '^^^yA'=^' {Oncosperma Jiorrida) were com- 

 mon, and the grand '' Daun Payoh " {Teysmannia altifro7ts 

 Miq.) was met with in several places. The paddle-shaped blades 

 of the leaf of this palm were over six feet long, and form excel- 

 lent roofs for huts. Of the smaller plants there were a number 

 of Pinangas of all sizes, Licualas, and Iguanuras, two or three 

 Zalaccas, and a number of kinds of rattans. Along the banks 

 of the river many of the herbs and shrubs growing nearest 

 to the water were noticed to have peculiarly long and narrow 

 leaves; among these were a CalopJiylluni ( new ), an Ixora, 

 2J\ Aiitidesnia, a small fig, ( Ficus pynfolia), d. little purple 

 flowered HygropJiila^ and a curious new genus of Asclepiads, 

 a Podochihis and some aroids. These all grew on the rocks 

 close to the water's edge, and must have been subjected to con- 

 stant rushes of water when the river, as it often does, suddenly 

 rises. In such a case as this, the broader leaved plants would 

 suffer heavily, as the rush of the stream would tear their 



