TIIF FLORA OF SINGAPORE. 29 



good portion of the coast line where mud is deposited are edged 

 with a thick mangrove jungle composed of Bhizophoracew (Rhi- 

 zophora, Bruguiera, Ceriops) Carapa, Lumnitzera, Avieennia 

 and Hevitiera on the branches of which grow abundance of small 

 orchids, ferns, Lycopodium, Psilotum, Heptapleurum, Pachycentria, 

 Medinillopsis and other epiphyte?, while in the mud on suitable 

 spots grow such herbaceous plants as Acanthus. Gryptocoryne 

 ciliata, Tristcllateia, Octhocharis and some Cyperacete and grasses. 

 Inland just behind the mangroves the ground is often sandy 

 and covered with woods of comparatively small trees, Eugenia, 

 Porlocavpus, Gelonium, Arytera, Afzelia, etc., with clumps of the 

 Xibung palm (Oncosperma tigilliarid), and on these and on the 

 ground grow many orchids, Cirrkopetalum, Bulbophyllum, Coelo- 

 gune, Plocoglottis, Platuclhus, and Eria. 



The coast line from Tanjong Ru to Changi is also very 

 sandy, and here is a very distinct flora much resembling that 

 which borders the Pahang river near its mouth. It is rich in 

 grasses and sedges, Xgri*, Gyanotis, and other herbaceous plants, 

 with bushes of Rhodomyrtus, Vacciniwn, Leucopogon, Gapparis, 

 Eugenia, etc. Unfortunately a great portion of this district has 

 been put under coconut cultivation, and the greater part of the 

 flora has disappeared, except at Changi point where it still 

 remains. 



As a very large portion of the island has been cleared and 

 cultivated, and often abandoned, there are very large tracts 

 covered either with Lalang (Lnperata cylindrical) or fern either 

 Gleichenia Linearis or bracken, Pteris aquilinaot in swampy spots 

 with Scleria to the exclusion of almost everything else. In 

 many places however secondary growth has sprung up (Belu- 

 kar). This consists of small trees or shrubs of Macaranga javanica 

 and J/, ht/poleuca, Rkodamnia trinervia, Adinandra dumosa, Vitex 

 pubescent, Melastoma polyanthum, Archytea Vahlii, Arthrophyllum 

 diversifolium and a few others. 



In waste ground near villages and in cultivated spots are a 

 number of weeds, many of which are well known as very wide- 

 ly distributed plants, and most of which have probably been 

 introduced accidentally or intentionally at no very great dis- 

 tance of time. These weeds include most of the Composites, 

 (Masses, Labiatw and probably all the U mbelliferai and Solatia- 



