296 
MERRILL AND MERRITT. 
traces of fires were observed by Mr. Curran. Tire almost continuous 
damp conditions prevailing on the summit would, however, seem to be 
opposed to any theory involving the occurrence of extensive grass fires 
as effecting the limits of the summit grass lands. Eh traces of fires have 
been observed in the mossy forest on other peaks- in .the region. 
I. THE GRASS-COVERED LOWER SLOPES. 
The steep slopes of the Agno Valley below an altitude of 1,200 m 
are characteristically grass covered, the prevailing species being Themeda 
triandra Forsk., intermixed with various other species, both finer and 
coarser, and with scattered herbaceous plants. In the more moist 
ravines and gullies a few broad-leaved shrubs and small trees occur, 
but the pine, which is characteristic of the entire Benguet-Lepanto 
region as a whole, is entirely wanting. This same condition is notice- 
able for a long distance southward along the Agno River, and for some 
distance northward until the river reaches an altitude of about 1,000 
m, beyond which point the pine trees occur down to the river banks. 
II. THE PINE REGION. 
The pine region occupies the main bulk of the mountain slopes and 
extends over the summits of most peaks and ridges that do not attain an 
altitude of more than 2,000 m. In this area, which extends from an 
altitude varying from 1,000 to 1,200 m up to 2,000 m, or in places 
somewhat higher, depending somewhat on local conditions, the pine, 
Pinus insularis Endl., is the characteristic tree, forming an open parlc-like 
forest. The trees are almost invariably scattered, and it is only in 
favorable localities that they are close enough entirely to shade the ground. 
These pines are of moderate size, most of the trees ranging from 45 to 
90 cm in diameter, and from 15 to 30 m in height, although in protected 
places they are larger. Generally the trees show the effect of storms, 
the tops of most of them being more or less shattered by the winds. On 
the open slopes the pine is practically the only tree to be found, but 
in the gullies and stream depressions throughout the altitudinal dis- 
tribution of the pine, broad-leaved trees and shrubs are quite common. 
Most of these trees and shrubs, at least in the lower parts of the pine 
region, are widely distributed species at low altitudes in the Philippines, 
but find favorable habitats in the Benguet-Lepanto region only in 
gullies and stream depressions. Prominent among the trees and shrubs in 
these ravines are Piptwrus asper Wedd., Melicope luzonensis Engl., Bischo- 
fia javcmica - BL, Mallotus ricinoides Muell.-Arg., Axalyplia stipulacea 
Klotz , Ficus hauili Blanco, F. nota Merr., F. cumingii Miq., Premna 
odorata Blanco, Guioa perrottetii Radik., Pittosporum pentandrum Merr., 
Ehretia philippinensis DC., and Bandia wallichii Hook. f. At higher 
altitudes in these ravines other arborescent species occur, such as Saurauia 
elegans F.-Vill., Vaccinium benguetense Vid., Itea macrophylla Wall., 
