THE BOTANY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND. 241 



Apparently it would not grow on the limestone 

 rocks, being confined to the basaltic outcrop. 



Fimbristylts cymosa, R. Br. 



A narrow leaved tufted sedge forming clumps re- 

 sembling those of the Thrift (Armeria) in rocky dry 

 spots above the sea. This was first recorded from 

 the island by Hemsley from Lister's collection and 

 was overlooked by Andrews. It is very common on 

 the rocks by the wharf in Flying Fish Cove, Smith 

 Point, beyond north-east point, and at the Waterfall and 

 beyond towards Steep Point. It occurs in Polynesia, 

 and Australia. 



Gramineae. 



Paspalum conjugatum Berg. This grass probably of South 

 American origin, and now abundant in the Malay 

 Peninsula has quite recently been introduced, acci- 

 dentally, and has hardly established itself yet. It was 

 met with at the wharf, and occurs too in Flying Fish 

 Cove by one of the houses. 



P. sanguniale var commutatum. 



Common all over the area cleared for cultivation 

 and along paths. There are three forms of this, one 

 the typical form with broad leaves and several spikes. 

 Another with narrower leaves and narrow finely ribbed 

 glumes. At Flying Fish Cove and Phosphate hill ; and 

 a dwarf tufted form with narrow bright green foliage, 

 slender and few spikes and slightly ciliated glumes. 

 This grows on Phosphate hill and in Flying Fish Cove 

 and the Waterfall in dry open spots. 



The plant is distributed over nearly all the regions 

 warm enough for it and is very variable, but all the 

 forms here belong to the variety commutatum. It 

 had reached the island by 1890 when I saw it there, 

 but was not collected before that, and I do not think 

 it is indigenous. 



R. k. Soc. No. 45, 1905. 



