7 
THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE 
The Plant House. —During the year a number of additional local epiphytic 
plants were placed in the plant house, including the ant-inhabited species Poly- 
podium smuosum, Hydnophytum formicarum, and Dischidia Rafflesiana; other 
epiphytes include a number of the common ferns of the genera Polypodium, 
Cyclophorus, Humata and Asplenium, and the flowering plants Aeschynanthus 
Wallichii, Medinilla Maingayi and another species, Pachycentria tuberosa and 
Hedychium longicornutum (the last two having fleshy water-storing roots). 
The following species of Nepenthes are now exhibited in the plant house: 
N. Rafflesiana , N. ampullaria, N. gracilis, N. Hookeriana, N. sanguinea, 
N. mirabilis, N. tentaculata; and also two artificial hybrids. 
The collection of ferns was considerably increased during the year by the 
introduction of plants obtained on collecting expeditions in varipus parts of the 
Peninsula and in Borneo. It is difficult to grow some of the shade-loving species + 
under the conditions prevailing in the plant houses, as there is insufficient shade 
and moisture, but many riverside species and some forest species have been 
successfully established. Plants of the genus Lindsaya seem to be particularly 
difficult to cultivate, though other ferns growing in similar natural conditions 
take quite kindly to pot culture. Plants of Osmunda javanica from the valley 
of the Sungei Sengam, below Cameron Highlands, made good growth and 
produced fertile fronds. Plants of Brainea insignis from Tanjong Selantai, 
Johore, were also successfully established. Among the ferns introduced from 
Borneo was Angiopteris horrida; a number'of others were not identified, and 
some are thought to be new species. The collection of SMaginella plants was 
sorted out, and the species named (with the assistance of Mr. A. H. G. Alston, 
of the British Museum) ; a descriptive label was made for the group. The 
collection of maidenhair ferns was also properly sorted, and named as accu¬ 
rately as possible. 
A good show of flowering orchids w T as maintained in the Plant House 
throughout the y>ear. Some additions were also made to the classified group 
of local orchid species. Among other ornamental flowering plants, Oxalis 
dispar (open in the morning only) and Pentas coccinea made a good display, 
and a few of the more free-flowering Begonias were propagated to give addi¬ 
tional colour. 
In addition to the regular labelling of these plants by the embossing press, 
experiments were tried with descriptive labels. In the first place these were 
typed on cards about 4 by 6 inches, and the cards soaked in melted paraffin wax, 
or treated with a cellulose varnish (kindly supplied by the Government Analyst) 
to make them waterproof. In both cases the cards lasted about a month in 
good condition, after which they became gradually covered with a small black 
mould fungus; one card which was sheltered from rain lasted much longer. 
About October some sheets of white celluloid were acquired, and labels 
written on these with special ink have lasted very satisfactorily, showing no 
signs of mould after three months or more. By the use of these labels the 
visitor is given some information about the more interesting plants in the 
Plant House, and it is hoped that similar labels may also be made for some 
of the trees in the Gardens. 
■ New Planting. —The following woody plants have been planted in the 
Gardens during the year: Attalea spectabilis , Artabotrys uncinnata, Bauhinia 
corymbosa , Benia ammonilla, Bo m bycidendron vidalianum, Calophyllum calaba, 
Casuarina quadrivalvis, Casuarina montana, Duranta repens , Eucalyptus longi- 
folia , Erythrina monosperma , Garcinia xanthochymus, Garcinia Livingstonii. 
Heliocarpus americana, Jatropha curcas, Mangifera indica var. mekongensis , 
Mangifera Duperreana, Mangifera cochinchinensis, Pachira cyathophora, 
Phyllocarpus septentrionalis, Pterocarpus cambodia.nus , Pahudia rhomboidea, 
Rheedia madruno, Thevetia. peruviana, Sophora tomentosa, and Sindora supa. 
A new plant of Ficus elastica was placed in the triangle near the foot of the 
lake, and grew well, after several other trees had been tried unsuccesfully. 
Two clove trees ( Eugenia cayophyllata ) were added to the group of spice plants 
on lawn D, near the office. 
New ornamental plants which have proved of value are the following: 
Ruellia malacosperma (a dwarf shrub with pretty lavender blue flowers open 
in the morning), Uroskihnera spectabilis, Hibiscus radiatus var. flore purpureo 
(large deep purple flowers), Cestrum nocturnum (fragrant flowers opening at 
5 ° 
