.1835.] O.h^ei'vatiojis on the Flora of Courtalhm, S85 



•^iromatic properties ; one or two wild mangosteens, hav- 

 ing little resemblance, however, to the true^ either in the 

 form or properties of their fruit. 



: The jack or Indian breadfruit tree is not uncommon 

 on these hills^ and attains the most magnificent dimen- 

 sions. 



Among the vines the most important in a commercial 

 point of view and the best known, by name at least, is 

 the Cocculus Indicus, a most powerful twiner ascending 

 to the tops of the highest trees ; a great variety of wild 

 grape vines, several pepper vines, besides many erect 

 -herbaceous forms of this family, one of which, the Piper 

 -latifolium, has round leaves, sometimes exceeding a foot 

 and half in diamater. Among the monocotyledonous 

 iherbaceous plants, the Scitaminias or ginger tribe occupy 

 ^by far the most distinguished place, not less remarkable 

 cfor the curious structure of their parts of fructification, 

 -than for the useful products with which their roots 

 abound. Of these a great variety is found in all the jun- 

 'gles covering these hills, the wild plantain, cardamoms 

 :and arrow root plant, being the most conspicuous; the 

 last rising not unfrequently in favourable situations, to 

 c the height of from 20 to 25 feet, terminated by a slender 

 iTery diffuse panicle bearing its comparatively small flow- 

 ers and fruit. A few palms only are found. The date 

 already mentioned, which prefers the most exposed 

 parts of the hills ; three species of rattan, one a very 

 fine one, (juite erect, nearly 5 inches in circumference 

 with a naked smooth stem, not like the others covered 

 with the very thorny sheaths of the leaves. The Gary- 

 ota urens, or, as it is called in this country, sago palm, is 

 widely distributed over the hills, but only attains a con- 

 siderable size in the most sheltered places ; the Ben- 

 tinckia condapanna, on the other hand, is equally diffus- 

 ed, and seems to thrive as well on the most exposed as 

 ill the most sheltered situations, produced and ripening 



