2 GRASSES AND SEDGES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



section form the bulk of the grass flora here, while the Cypera- 

 ce& are represented by a few common Sclerias, Rhynchospora 

 Wall ichii and Fim.br isty lis. The low swampy ground and rice- 

 fields arerichinthe genera Panicum, Isachne,Leersia ) Scirpus, 

 Rhynchospora , Scleria, Heleocharis and Cyperus. Along the 

 streams and rivers some fine species may be met with, among 

 which Scleria oryzoides, Scirpus grossus and Sc. mucronatus, 

 Lepironia, many Cyperi, the common reed Phragmites 

 Roxburghii, and the wild sugar-cane Saccharum arundina- 

 ceum and S. Ridleyi are very conspicuous ; the last three 

 grasses forming huge thickets in many places. The Sclerias, 

 too — Scl. malaccensis and Scl. oryzoides — often cover large 

 tracts of w T et open land, forming jungles about six feet high, 

 very laborious to traverse. In the dense forests the glumaceous 

 plants almost disappear, yet there are several very interesting 

 genera to be met with. The large group of Hypolytrese is well 

 represented here by many species of Mapania and Pandano- 

 phyllum. The latter of which, as the name denotes, so much 

 resemble the smaller species of screw-pines that, unless the 

 inflorescence is found, they may be easily mistaken for them. 

 Grasses are almost unrepresented in the deep jungle. Cento- 

 theca lappaceaandLophatherum, however, sometimes find their 

 way far in, being transported widely by their very adherent 

 spikelets attaching themselves to wild beasts. In many places, 

 too, there are large tracts of bamboos, but at present speci- 

 mens of these in flower have rarely been met with, so that of 

 what species they are is not yet known. 



On the sandy districts by the sea and along the river banks, 

 a large number of species are to be met with, and among 

 them several very striking plants. Such are the Porcupine 

 grass [Spinifex), Thouarea, a curious creeping grass, Schcenus 

 calostachyus, Poir, two species of Friachne, Gahnia, Lepturus, 

 Tricostularia and many other species worthy of cultivation. 



Some of our native grasses are worthy of cultivation as orna- 

 mental plants, among these the Saccharums and Phragmites 

 form large tufts like those of Pampas grass. The Pandano- 

 phylla and Mapanias are fine foliage plants suited for pot cul- 

 ture, and Pogonatherum and Fimbristylis monophylla with 



