42 Tansley and Fritsch. 
even on ordinary soil, 1 so it is not surprising that they should 
also be found in the intermediate situations mentioned. Schimper 
has already referred to the “ Misch - und Uebergangs-formation ” in 
the sort of situations we have just described, and calls it the 
“ iVf/w-formation.” The remarkable palm Nipa fruticans certainly 
occurs typically in this kind of habitat, but the vegetation in 
question is far too mixed and varied to call by the name of a single 
species, which is very often absent altogether. It is possible that 
proper investigations would enable us to distinguish several different 
“ formations ” among this intermediate vegetation. Tor present 
purposes we shall refer to it as “semi-mangrove” or “semi¬ 
halophyte ” vegetation, for want of a better name. 
With regard to the actual specific composition of this 
vegetation, in the first place practically all the trees mentioned on 
p. 17 as belonging to Schimper’s Barringtonia-iormation (Beach- 
jungle) may be found in this sort of locality. They are probably 
all adapted to resist the effect of salty water, though to a less 
extent than the true mangroves. Information as to the range of 
soils they inhabit is very scanty, but they are certainly capable of 
growing in very muddy situations, as well as on the sand of the 
coast. We should put Exccccaria Agalloclia and DolicJumdrone 
Rheedii next to the true mangroves. 2 Cerbera Odollam is also 
often abundant in the same localities, especially in the more open 
spots. 
We must next consider two characteristic and widely 
distributed plants of this vegetation, the palm Nipa fruticans and 
the fern Chrysodium aureuni. 
Nipa fruticans has an underground rhizome, which sends up 
rosettes of gigantic pinnate leaves many feet long. One can climb 
about on the leaf bases, where the rachis is as thick as one’s 
wrist and quite rigid. From the midst of these rosettes the 
inflorescences rise to a height of four feet or so. A female spike 
terminates the inflorescence and is surrounded by male spikes. 
Strong laterals may also terminate in a female spike. Each spike 
is covered by a single great bract of a beautiful orange-fawn colour. 
The male spikes burst through the substance of this bract and also 
through the single bracteole belonging to each. The fruits, with 
1 Cf. Schimper (Indo-Malayische Strandflora p 198), who points 
out that Bruguiera , Sonneratia, etc., flourish in the Botanic 
Gardens at Buitenzorg. There is even a plant of the American 
Rhizophora Mangle in the Victoria regia house at Kew. 
2 Cf. Schimper, Strandflora, p. 61. 
