278 N. ANNANDALE. 



shrub, and Oldenlandia, the representatives of which are among the few herbs that 

 seem to belong to the true indigenous flora. 



Flowering and Leafing Seasons. 



The flowering and leafing seasons of the main constituents of the vegetation of 

 the island are not only of interest in themselves but have a special importance 

 from an entomological point of view. The plants of Barkuda fall into three groups 

 so far as flowering is concerned, viz. (i) those that flower in spring, (2) those that 

 flower in the rainy season, i.e. between the middle of June and the middle of Octo- 

 ber, and (3) those that have no definite flowering season. The division is not 

 absolute, for some plants which flower mainly in spring [e.g. the common shrubs 

 Glycosmis pentaphylla and Weihea ceylonica) also flower less profusely or occasion- 

 ally at other seasons, while many of those that belong to the rainy season group 

 begin to flower a little before the rains commence. Among those that do so are 

 the Nim, Barringtonia acutangula and the vines Vitis quadrangularis and V . vitigi- 

 nosa. 



The spring flowering season is for the most part of very short duration. At the 

 beginning of April (perhaps a little earlier in some years) there is a sudden burst of 

 blossom all over the island, the most conspicuous species being the Glycosmis and 

 the Weihea among the shrubs, and among the creepers Dalhergia monosperma and 

 Symphorema involucratum. With the exception of the last, the general colour of the 

 flowers of which is dull mauve, all these plants are almost hidden in white blossom 

 for a few weeks, or even but a few days. 



Craeteva religiosa, with pale yellow and mauve flowers, and Ochna squarrosa, with 

 gorgeous deep yellow flowers, are also in blossom at the same time, but their season 

 is more protracted. 



Except the figs, which belong to the third group, most of the larger trees and 

 creepers belong to that of the rainy season, for example the Nim, the Barringtonia 

 and Mimiisops hexandva among the trees and among the creepers the true vines, 

 Aganosma caryophyllata and Acacia intzia. None of these, except the Barringtonia 

 with deep pink and the Aganosma with pure white blossoms, have flowers that are 

 conspicuous in themselves. ]\Iost of the herbs of the island, springing up as they do 

 in the rainy season, naturally flower at this season. 



Among the species that flower at all seasons or at any season several of the herbs 

 of cleared ground must be included, and also Datura fastuosa and the various fig- 

 trees. 



Two leafing seasons can be distinguished on Barkuda, one immediately preceding 

 the spring flowering season, the other at or shortly after the beginning of the rainy 

 season. In March most of the trees and shrubs put forth new leaves, but if the 

 weather is dry in April and May most of these new leaves wilt and die, and about the 

 end of June, when the heavy rains are well established, new leaves are produced for 

 a second time. At this period also the large deciduous creepers come into full leaf 

 and thus completely change the aspect of the vegetation. The tree Euphorbia 



