Sept. I, 1900.] Supplement to the ''Tropical AarwuUurist.^' 
221 
but further South and East they increai-e in 
Dumber audi species until, in many cases, they 
form almost the entire forest. Ko doubt, several 
new species will have to be added, and even since 
the first voluaie of Trimen's Flora has been pub- 
lished fresh difCo\eries have been made, a case 
in point being the Stemonoporus {? fatten) 
Lewisi, v. liich was found by Mr. F. Lewis of the 
Forest Department at about 1,000 ft. altitude above 
Felmadulla. The curious almost wingless fruit 
of Shorea lissophylla was also found near the 
Bentota river in the Western Province. The 
forests of this zone, where they have been saved, 
are to the eye the most magnificent of the whole 
island, the trees often reaching a height of 100 feet 
to the first branch. On this account the trees are 
often dilficult to identify, and it is probable that 
many are still unnamed, especially as it is not 
always possible to liit on new species at the time 
when they are in flower or fruit. The most 
beautiful of these forests is probably the forest of 
the Hinidun Pattu, in the Southern Province; 
in it the most important Dipterocarps are Dip- 
terocarpus hispidus, which in the South almost 
replaces D. zeylanicus, D. glandulosus, Shorea 
oblongifolia, Doona trapezifolia, which extends up 
to about 3,000 ft. above sea level, D. cordifolia, 
1). macrophylla, D. congesti flora, which produces 
a valuable timber, Ropea discolor and Vatica 
affinis. 
Vatica Roxburghiana is found near streams and 
in lands subject to inundation in the Western 
Province and in Sa.baragamuwa, while Vaterm 
acuminata, which also loves the neighbourhood of 
water, is found on more rocky ground. The Dip- 
terocarps which are able to ascend to an elevation of 
4,000 ft. are Boon i x.zylanica and B. Gardnevi, and 
Ste7nonoporus Gardneri, which has been found up 
to nearly 5,000 feet. 
Among the natural orders, which are also widely 
represented, are the Guttiferoj, the Ebenacece, and 
the Sapotaceoe. The first-named is represented 
chiefly by the ironwood Mesua ferrea and M. 
Thwaitesii, by Galophyllum spectabile, C. 
Burmanni, which extends into the dry country, C. 
bracteatum, G. tomentosum, Garcinia cambogia, G. 
moreUa, {ihe gamboge tree), G. terpnophylla, and G. 
echmocarpa, which latter grows up to 6,000 ft. 
elevation. The Ebenacece are particularly 
abundant in the fore'^te of the Adam's Peak Range, 
and in the Pasdun and Hinidun Korales. 
Ebony, as has already been mentioned, is 
found in small quantities in this zone, but the 
most important tree of this family, which is 
unfortunately almost extiuct, the Coromandel or 
Calamauder wood of commerce, Diospyros quae- 
sita, is still found here and there in the Pasdun 
.Korale and in the Hinidun Pattu. Attempts 
have been made for several years to obtain the 
fruit in order to propagate the species artificially, 
but, although rewards have been offered, none has 
been obtained. 
The other most noticeable trees of this family 
are described by Mr. P. Lewis, who has made a 
special study of them. In the wet forests, ex- 
tending from the moun tain known as the Haycock 
into the Sabaragamuwa Province, the "most 
noticeable exa.mple of theEbenacefe are Diocpyros 
posia, D. Gar dneri, I), imiynis, and JJ. 
Thicaitesii. The first of these is found up to 
3,000 ft. altitude, while the last, though endemic, 
is restricted to the areas of high rainfall. D, 
pruriens is found very sparingly in the wet 
forests towards Adam's Peak, and in one place in 
the ^Yeste^n Province. A remarkable species, 
possibly a form D. Ebenum, locally known as 
' Kallu kirin,' occurs at the foot of the Rakwana 
hills, and is conspicuous by its black lace-like 
heart-wood, but little is known of its flowers or 
fruit. One of the most common, but valueless, 
of the order is D. insignis, which extends up to 
2,000 feet altitude in the West of Ceylon. 
The Sapotaceoe are also well represented, es- 
pecially in parts of the Matara district. The 
most import ant are Chrysophylluon Roxburghii, 
Isonandra lanceolata, Bassia fulva, B, neriifolia, 
which lines the banks of rivers, Palaquium pe- 
tiolare, P. grande, which extends into the 
mountain z^ne, and Mimusops Elengi which is 
also found iu the dry zone. Among the more 
noteworthy trees belonging to other natural orders, 
the following are charucreristic of this zone :— 
Dilleni'xretusa, Wonnia triquetra, CuUenia avcelsa, 
ElcBocarpus serratus, Kokoona zeylanica, Cana- 
rium zeylanicum, C. brunnetim, Lasinthera apicalis, 
Pometia eximia, Campnospenna zeylanicmn, 
which in places forms almost pure forest, 
Pericopsis Mooniana near water-caur.ses, Adenan- 
thera pavonina, A. bicolor, Pygeum zeylanicum, 
C'arallia integerrima, 0. calycina, especially in 
the Galle district, Anisophyllea zeylanica, Ho- 
malium zeylanicum, Symplocos. spicata, the three 
Myristicas {M. laurifolia, M. Horsfieldia and M. 
Iriya). Various species of Uinnamomum and Litsea 
are also abundant; and, among the Eupdiorbiacese, 
Bridelia retusa, B. Moonii, Aporosa latifolia, 
A. Lindleyana, Ostodes zeylanica, Chcetocarpus 
castanocarpus, and Macaranga tomentosa are 
the most common ; while among Urticacece there 
are numerous figs, Artocarpus integrifolia, A 
nobilis, and Trema orientalis. Among the shrub* 
which characterise this zone may be mentioned 
Humboldtia laurifolia, Maesa indica, Agrostis 
tacJiys longifolia, A. Hookeri, Ixora coccinea, 
Ai-disict Moonii, Sfc 
Most of the palms of Ceylon are found in the 
zone. The most important by far^is C'aryota urens, 
the toddy and sugar of which provide 
many jungle people with means of existence. 
The Talipot palm (CorypJia umbraculifera) 
found in several forests, especially in the Kuru- 
negnla district, and is noteworthy for the enormous 
panicle of flowers which the male tree produces, 
and for its leaves, which are ut^ed for umbrellas, 
fans, mats, &c. The iV7/>a // M^tcf/WA- is character- 
istic of brackith waters, while .'everul species of 
Calamus, with the help of their hooked tendrils, 
climb to the summits of the highest trees. 
Am(^- the characteristic climbers may be 
mentioned Coscmium fenestratum, Ancistrocladus 
Vahlii, Entada scandens, Acacia concinna, Strych- 
nos cin7iamomi folia. 
The most beautiful orchW of this zone is the 
Dendrobium macartUce ; and among the_ most 
interesting ferns may be mentioned Gleichenia 
linearis, which covers large extents of country, 
Blechnnm. orientate and Nep}>rol€p)is exaltata 
which, after the first-named, are the most 
