( 14 ) 
Vegetation of the cleared lands. 
sent from Port Blair to search for pasture ground or wild grasses, 
belonging to Andropogonous genera. A s these were the only plants collected 
there by the deputation I cannot judge of the general character of the 
vegetation of that island. 
17. We have now to consider the vegetation of the cleared spots and 
cultivated lands where the most recent change in 
the flora of the Andamans has occurred. Such 
spots appear during the hot season as yellowish ridges, destitute of nearly any 
vegetation, except what is the direct result of cultivation. During the rains, 
however, and even in some protected spots also during the hot season, a 
number of weeds spring up, which have been introduced with the different 
sowings of grass made around the settlements. &Uachytarpha Indica and An- 
gelonia salicaricefolia have become troublesome weeds on Boss Island; Scopciria 
dalcis , Vernonia cinerea , and Ageratum conyzoides are now the most common 
weeds in these settlements, and some of them have already penetrated far 
into the jungles, especially wherever a little clearing or even cutting has taken 
place, numerous grasses and Cyperacece are growing now freely, which origi¬ 
nally had been sown, and in some spots in the forests they appear as if wild. 
Gynodon Dactylon , the common doob grass, is springing up vigorously, covering 
the ridges with a thin but brilliant emerald green. A shrub, Lantana mixta 9 
already occurs locally in the jungles around Aberdeen. Papaya vulgaris will 
most likely become in a short time quite established, and will spread sponta¬ 
neously. 
V 
18. Omitting the vegetation of fresh waters, which in the Andamans 
only is represented by a few Algse, we have finally 
to note the vegetation of the sea. The only pha¬ 
nerogamous plant I observed was Enhalus Kcenigii , which is rather common 
along the western coasts and the Labyrinth Islands. 
19. I must here notice the difference of the aspect of these forests and 
influence of the seasons upon the cultivated lands in the latter part of the dry season 
vegetation. (April and May), and during the rains (June and 
July). 
I have already dwelt generally upon this subject in the previous sections 
on the vegetation of these islands. 
Vegetation of the sea. 
In April and May we find few other species in flower than such as have 
more or less a continental geographical distribution, as Sterculia , Albizzia 
LebbeJc , Pajanelia , Dillenia , Careya } Odina , Glycosmis , &c., also generally such 
as are destitute of their leaves during the hot season. The climbers put forth 
all their variously colored flowers high in the summits of the trees, quite out 
of the reach of man. Numerous dried-up perennial and annual plants and 
leafless (often thorny) shrubs fail to give the forests the appearance of tropical 
luxuriance. 
The shrubs, though numerous, appear of such an uniform habit in conse¬ 
quence of the prevalence only of a few families that those not acquainted with 
botany might easily refer them altogether to some 20 or 30 kinds. Only a few 
produce conspicuous flowers. 
A fortnight or so after the rains have set in a new life begins, the former 
leafless trees appear in bright green, the numerous pinnated leaved trees be¬ 
longing to Sapindacece , Meliacece } JBurserucece , Anacardiacece , and numerous 
families of a more southern vegetation, all vie to be the first to develop their 
buds.. The herbaceous plants, formerly nearly disappearing from drought, 
occasionally cover in. single or few species the freshly moistened soil. Scitaminece 
form now the principal feature, intermingled with Pollia , Leea , Ophiorrhiza 9 &c. 
. vegetation takes a more Malayan type, and we often do not recognise 
again the spots which we passed during the dry season, when they were nearly 
barren and the yellow clay soil was covered only with dust. 
