12 
THE VEGETATION OF 1 HE DISTRICT OF 
terrestris , I ndigofera enneaphylla, Gnaphalium, Coldenia procuni- 
hens , Striga, Rue Ilia, Lip pi a, Achyranthes , Polygonum plebejum , 
Euphorbias , and various species of grasses. Very common shrubs are 
Tephrosia purpurea, Flemingia limata and Calotropis proeera . 
The trees belong to the same species as those found in the alluvial 
belt. 
The alluvial belt vegetation is prolonged along the banks of the 
three rivers of the district, where the dry hills of the desert zone do 
not approach the banks and cut it off. This secondary alluvial belt 
vegetation is most distinct along the Mon river. 
The desert zone where it borders on the irrigated areas and alluvial 
belt shows an undulating surface, which gradually becomes more 
rugged and hilly as one travels westwards until the rampart of the 
Nwamadaung range is encountered. '[ he vegetation of this zone 
is very characteristic, consisting of a comparatively small number of 
mixed gregarious species which constitute in the true classical sense 
of the adjective a horrid scrub. At Gwingyin the general impression 
is of a wilderness of thick but not impenetrable jungle, consisting 
chiefly of shrubs which are almost all armed with spines and prick- 
les of diverse form and size but alike malignancy. One of the 
chief constituents of this ill-fayoured flora, very common and con- 
spicuous is Zizyphus Jujuba, the so-called ( wild p’um 1 of the district. 
The whitish colour of the under-surface of the leaves of this plant 
gives it at a distance when a breeze ruffles its foliage a pecu- 
liarly deceptive appearance of being laden with white blossoms. 
Gardenia turgida is another very common plant of this zone, of a 
very characteristic aspect. Its almost leafless habit, its branch 
spines like miniature bayonets and its silvery grey bark give it a 
curiously spectal appearance. Euphorbia antiquorum is another 
exceedingly common plant often attaining the dimensions of a fair 
sized tree with a well developed trunk. Calotropis proeera is also 
very abundant. The shrubby vegetation is represented by an abun- 
dance of species of Capparis such as Capparis grandis, C. burmanica , 
C . horrida, C . Jlavicans, C. hastigera, C. polymorpha and by species of 
other genera less conspicuous such as Corchorus fascicularis , 
C. acutangulus, Tephrosia purpurea, Flemingia lineata , Combre - 
turn apetalum, Barleria Prionitis, etc. Apocynaceous and Asclep- 
adaceous climbers are fairly common. These from their intimate 
entanglement with their armed supports are themselves able to 
dispense with spines and prickles, though even without the aid of 
their involuntary allies the milky juice which most of them contain 
would probably render them not very palatable to deer or cattle. 
During the rainy season, Gloriosa superba is said to appear in great 
