64 BOTANICAL TOUR IN THE LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT, ASSAM. 
The outskirts of the great forest of Makum are reached at the 
railway junction of that name. Onwards is Digboi where petroleum 
w'ells have been tapped. Here the land becomes rugged for a short 
distance and the railroad is carried through the forest which is dense 
and penetrable with difficulty on account of the overwhelming mass 
of vegetation. Bamboos of several species are common. The most 
noteworthy are a large species growing in gigantic clumps {Dendro- 
culamus) and another [Pseudostachyum polymorphum) with multi- 
tudes of scattered culms. The latter was in flower and specimens 
were collected. It is advisable never to omit gathering specimens 
ol any bamboo when in flower or fruit as years may elapse before 
such an opportunity may occur again. 
The more characteristic features of the vegetation in the Makum 
forest .nay be summed up shortly as, in my opinion, it is preferable 
to exhibit the subject according to a systematic method at the end 
of this paper. 
The coal mines are at some elevation on the face of the hills eight 
miles eastward of Margherita. From there a comprehensive view 
can be obtained of the boundless forests extending to the horizon 
with the river Dihing winding through their midst. To tlie west are 
^een the grassy slopes of the settlement with smaller clearances 
scattered through the forest in its vicinity. 
•Large trees form a predominant feature in these forests whose 
aspect is relieved from uniformity by their extremely diverse forms. 
No single species is gregarious and the component individuals repre- 
sent widely different orders and genera. 
Many tower over the observer vvho is impressed by the imposing 
grandeur afforded them by their height and bulk. Chief among these 
are a tall clear stemmed species of Diplerocarpus (Z?. pilosus) ; A/es- 
KCi ferrea^ the famous “ Nahor ” or Iron Wood , Duaban^a sonner^ 
atoideSy a stately tree with tabular, weeping branches terminated by 
panicles of large white flowers ; Bischojia jaianica^ of wide distribu- 
tion and justly valued for the quality of its timber ; Talaufna Hod^- 
always a tree of note with dense foliage of large dark-green lucid 
leaves and glaucous flower buds opening into white flowers whicli 
shed their numerous petals immediately they unfold. 
Of tree.« prominent from, other peculiarities we have Afallotus 
albus, Mallotuz deniiculatus^ Pterospermiuti acerifolium, Castan- 
apsis indica^ Actinodaphne obovatum and Myristica longifolia a!! dis 
tinguished by the light colour on the undersurfaces of their leaves ; 
Bombax 2ir\d Erythrina diimeA at all points with hard conical p rickles ; 
Aralia Tbomsonit, with slender, prickly stern crowned by a head of 
