248 
FLORA OF THE SUNDRIBUNS. 
Koilsha {^giceras) and associated with it Kedar Sundri 
as representatives of the riparian fence. The narrowest creeks of 
all are often lined, to the exclusion of other species, by a fringe of 
Golp^tta {Nipa). 
It is on the riparian fence that the climbing species are most 
plentiful; the commonest is the ubiquitous Derris uliginosa, followed 
in order of frequency by Finlaysonia^ Vitis trifolia^ Dalhergia toria^ 
Sarcolobus globosus, Parsonsia spiralis^ Dregeu volubilis, Derris 
scandens 2ii times also occurs here but is more plentiful inside the 
forests than on their margins; Finlay sonia obovat a dlso is not uncom- 
mon within the forests, the other creepers rarely occur there. 
Just behind the riparian fence occurs any undergrowth to be met 
with. This consists mainly of Kewa (Pandanus fascicularis) with 
occasional tufts of Scirpodendron, clumps of and bushes of 
HsivgozQ. (Acanthus ilicifoliusj. Except, however, in the most 
northern forests the undergrowth is rarely dense and often there is 
none. Overhead is the Sundri forest composed mainly of that tree 
{Heritiera minor) ; of larger size in the central than in the western 
forests and in the northern islands of either than it is further south. 
Associated with Sundri on the higher ground is Baen (Avicennia 
officinalis) — the largest of Sundribun trees often reaching 10, sometimes 
‘1 2-1 5 feet in girth, and Gengwa {Excoec aria), hoth.{2(\x\j common] dXso 
Shingra [Cynometra) which is less plentiful. In the more swampy 
interior of the islands the companion treesTo Sundri are still Gengwa ; 
with it are Kedar Sundri [Brownlowia), Amur {Amoora cucullata) and 
Pussur {Carapa gangetica). As we pass southwards the Sundri dimi- 
nishes in frequency while Gengwa remains, till at length the forests 
become almost pure Gengwa. By this time, however, the riparian fence 
characteristic of the Sundri-forest has been replaced by Rhizophors 
which, as we ‘pass onwards towards the sea, ultimately supplant the 
Gengwa and give the pure mangrove forest with which we commenced. 
Besides the absence of unxier growth, a feature which the Sundri - 
forest shares with the mangrove- or the G^ngwa-forest, the most re- 
markable feature of the Sundrbforest »‘is. the characteristic crop of 
vertical blind root-suckers, emitted by the roots of various species, 
notably by those of Sundri itself. The species besides Sundri {^Heritiera 
w’hich develop these suckers are Amur {Amoora cucullata), 
Pussur {Carapa gangetica), Ora {Sonneratia acida), Keora {Sonnera-' 
tia apetala), Baen {Avicennia) and Hital {Phoenix paludosa)* 
In the case of Phoenix paludosa the roots, which pass almost 
vertically downwards, give off numerous branches that pass vertically 
upwards. The vertical branches are usually small and somewhat in- 
conspicuous, nor do they differ greatly in appearance from the down- 
