On “ Fasciation.” 
55 
The mangrove formation is confined to the muddy edges of 
the tidal estuaries, which were probably at one time completely 
covered with this vegetation, (where the shores are flat and hence 
covered at high water) for some miles from the sea. Rhizophora 
and Bruguiera form the largest pure associations, but Souneratia is 
practically ubiquitous and goes far up the rivers and on to the mud 
fiats and swamps. Acanthus forms a well-marked zone on the 
water’s edge in very many places. Clirysodium auvcum is a very 
abundant and characteristic riverside feature, usually beginning 
some little distance from the mouth and mingling with the fresh 
water reed-marsh formation. It is also extremely common on 
brackish swamps, often in company with Sonneratia. Nipa (rather 
rare in Ceylon) has a very similar habitat. 
A series of transitional species lead from the typical highly 
adapted mangroves to the Beach-jungle trees, nearly all of which 
v 
are found where the estuaries have definite banks above water 
level, and on the edges of the mangrove swamps. Where the 
banks slope steeply from the water’s edge inland forms occur, while 
the mangroves and semi-mangroves are scanty or absent. 
ERRATUM :—By an oversight Gloriusa supcrba was described as 
“ Dioscoreaceous ” on p. 13 in the first part of this paper ; Gloriosa is a 
member of the Liliaceae. 
“ FASCIATION : ” its Meaning and Origin. 
By W. C. Worsdell. 
[Text-Figs. 17—24. J 
J am profoundly impressed with the fact that all so-called 
“ monstrosities,” “ sports,” or “ freaks,” whether animal 
or vegetable, have no value or importance in themselves as such ; 
on the other hand, that they are often of immense utility as 
