30 THE FLORA OF SINGAPORE. 



cerr. It is perhaps worth noting that very few of these are 

 to be found in Wallich's collection made in 1822, showing- that 

 in all probability they were introduced at a later date Among 

 these weeds one or two are interesting as not occurring in India, 

 such are Clitoria cajqnifolia, and Cleome aculeata, both South 

 American plants, which also occur as weeds in Java, whence 

 probably they were carried accidentally to Singapore. 



The flora geographically speaking is typically Malayan, and 

 resembles as might be expected that of Johore, and to a certain 

 extent that of the neighbouring coast of Sumatra. A few plants 

 occurring here are as far as is known endemic, but it is probable 

 that most will be re-discovered in the neighbouring countries, 

 when they are more thoroughly explored. These endemic 

 plants not known to occur elsewhere are marked with a *. 

 The absence of certain plants common in the peninsula is some- 

 what remarkable, such are Eurya acuminata and Grewia umbel- 

 lata, and there are several striking plants to be found on the 

 neighbouring islands, and on the coast of Johore, especially near 

 Tanjong Kupang, which are quite absent from our flora. Of the 

 native flora it will be noticed that the greater number of plants 

 are either trees or shrubs, herbaceous plants being comparative- 

 ly scarce in the forests, and chiefly to be found in the open 

 country in the sandy district of the coast. Those of the forest 

 region being usually epiphytes, orchids, Piperaceae, or ^cita- 

 mineae, aroids, grasses and sedges, with a few saprophytes. 



The most extensively represented orders here are those of 

 the Euphobiacecp, Urticacea?, Itubiacea? and Orchidece. The 

 variety of the latter will surprise many residents who have pro- 

 bably seen not more than one or two species growing wild here, 

 but the fact that these plants are very local and frequently 

 occur on the upper branches of the loftiest trees, where they 

 are difficult to see and to obtain, accounts for their being so 

 often overlooked. The largest genera are those of the Figs 

 (Ficus) and nutmeg (Myristica). 



As in most equatorial regions, the number of species in 

 proportion to the number of individuals is very large. A Malay 

 jungle consists of innumerable trees, shrubs and climbers, all 

 apparently distinct, and individuals of any one species occurring 

 singly here and there, often very far apart, so that these forests 



