94 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVII. 



theLabugama forests, and many smaller forest areas scattered 

 like islands in a sea of more or less private property. 



The action of mankind in changing the aspect of the 

 vegetation of the country can best be seen by a glance at the 

 accompanying maps of the four districts involved, the area 

 still in forest being tinted green. It is therefore readily 

 understood that contrasts in typical forms are many, while, 

 on the other hand, instances often occur where dry zone 

 plants are found in wet forests, and occasionally vice versa. 



Often a single Order may be found to have representatives 

 in both extremes of climate, as, for example, Ebony, which 

 is usually a dry zone form. Again, in the RuMacece we find 

 examples not only in extremes of climate range, but also at 

 the lowest and highest altitudes. 



Notwithstanding all these conflicting forces tending to 

 bring about a general mixing up of all species all over the 

 country, there still remains a distinct outline of specific 

 characteristic to differentiate the flora of the wet from the 

 dry zone, or these separately from the intermediate zone, 

 while montane flora separates itself into a readily recognized 

 position differing from all others. 



Generally speaking, none of the forests of the Provinces 

 under consideration possess any one dominant species, that 

 is to say, no one forest is made up of one kind. Several 

 gregarious species exist, most especially so in members of 

 the Dipterocarp Order, as, for instance, Dipterocarpus 

 zeylanicus, or Doona congestiflora, or Doona Gardneri, but 

 the area over which they may be regarded as predominant 

 is usually small. 



A curious example of gregariousness and restriction is to 

 be found in a portion of the Bambarabotuwa forest to the 

 north-east of Ratnapura, where Aridda (Campnosperma 

 zeylanicum) — one of the Anacardiacese — all but takes up 

 the whole vegetation. In the dry forests Satinwood is 

 nearly as plentiful. In undergrowth several forms of 

 Strobilanthes assume a sub-gregarious nature, as also 

 might be said of certain of the Mangroves. 



