ON A COLLECTION OF PLANTS FROM THE BATANES AND 
BABUYANES ISLANDS. 
By Elmer D. Merrill. 
( From the Botanical Section of the Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, 
Manila, P. I.) 
The Batanes, or Bashi, and the Babuyanes Islands form a group of 
small islands extending from near the north coast of Luzon to within 
about 160 kilometers of the southern point of Formosa. The Batanes 
are the most northern, consisting of 10 islands, of which the largest are 
Ibayat, Batan, and Sabtan, and the entire group is of volcanic formation, 
with the exception of the small islands of Desquey and Ibujos, and 
possibly Ibayat, nothing being known regarding the latter, Desquey and 
Ibujos being formed of coral limestone. Y’Ami Island, the most 
northern point of the Philippines, is about 270 kilometers north of Cape 
Engaho the nearest point of Luzon, 107 kilometers south of the Japanese 
Island of Little Botel Tobago, and 160 kilometers from the most southern 
point of Formosa. These islands are separated from Formosa by the 
Bashi Channel with a minimum depth of 1009 fathoms, while to the 
south the probably shallow channel of Balintang lies between them 
and the Babuyanes. It is said that on a clear day the Formosan moun- 
tains can be seen from the summit of Mount Iraya on Batan Island. 
The physiography of this group has been considered by Mr. Henry G. 
Ferguson of this Bureau, from whose paper the above information is 
taken. 1 Sabtan has an area of about 6 square miles, while Batan and 
Ibayat have each an area of about 27 square miles, tire former two being 
mountainous, the highest peak being Mount Iraya on Batan Island, its 
altitude being about 1,140 m. Ibayat is comparatively low, its highest 
point being about 240 m. The islands are subject to the heavy monsoons, 
and typhoons are very prevalent, these constant and heavy winds no 
doubt having much influence on the vegetation. Batan is largely covered 
with grass-lands, forests for most part occurring only in the sheltered 
ravines. Ibayat is said to be the most fertile island of the group, but 
is considered to be unhealthy and is sparsely populated, its vegetation 
being partly forest and partly grass-lands. 
1 This Journal 2 (1908) Gen. Sci. 1-24. 
385 
