-trunks and the large 
PLANT GEOGRAPHY 439 
forms are many, such as climbing palms (Figs. 70, 489) and 
begonias, not found elsewhere. Such plants are hardly. more 
peculiar in themselves than are other plants. That such plants 
have been described as peculiar is largely because they are un- 
familiar in the native homes of those who have described them. 
A number of interesting types of plants do, however, occur in 
moist tropical forests (Fig. 74). Strangling figs (Figs. 199, 200) 
present a very pecul- 
lar appearance and 
are sometimes nu- 
merous. Trees with 
large buttress roots 
are rather common 
(Fig. 492). In acon- 
siderable number of 
species, flowers and 
fruits occur on the 
branches, but such 
Species constitute a 
very small, inconspic- Fic. 493. Drynaria, an epiphytic fern which 
uous proportion of has small humusgathering leaves and large 
all the trees present. leaves which carry on photosynthesis and pro- 
Humus-collecting epi- duce spores. (x 3); 
phytic ferns (Figs. 
85, 493) are sometimes abundant. Curious plants of the Ma- 
layan region also include large flowering parasites (Figs. 7, 161) 
and plants that have swollen stems (Figs. 176, 177) which are 
inhabited by ants, but such plants are usually rare and never 
form a conspicuous part of the vegetation. 
Subtropical and warm temperate rain forests. In subtropical 
and warm temperate regions, where rainfall is abundant and well 
distributed throughout the year, tliere are evergreen forests. 
Near the tropics these are similar to the tropical rain forests, but 
as colder latitudes are reached the forests partake more of the 
character of the deciduous forests of the cold temperate regions, 
r 
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