Page:The Journal of Indian Botany.djvu/718

252 THE JOURNAL OF INDIAN BOTANY. Epiphytes are prominent in this region. They consist mostly of mosses, ferns and orchids. The six or eight species of opiphytio orchids seem rather more abundant in the Bauhinia forest. Their blossoming period is mainly during the dry or the early part of the rainy season when the trees are relative devoid of foliage. As they have entomophilous flowers this habit seems especially appropriate. The ferns and mosses are more abundant on the oak, the rough shaggy bark of which furnishes them a better lodging than do the more smooth-barked trees of the Bauhinia woods. Frequently associa- ted with them is Peperomia reflexa, a curious member of the Pipera- ceae. Lichens are abundant and often conspicuous, particularly on the oak. Still they are less in evidence than in the more humid forests of higher altitudes where several long thread-like Usnea species abound. A lichen was found growing on a leaf of an evergreen Machilus at Sal Tal.

Parasites of the Loranthaceae are wide-spread, there being three species of Viscum and two species of Loranthus in the neighborhood. The oak is one of the most affected trees, but we find Viscum album on the willow and some of the species on still other trees. Cuscuta reflexa, a dodder widely distributed over India, is found here.

Aechmanthera tomentosa is an interesting undershrub, related to Strobilanthes. It is found in all three of the forest types but is almost confined to the east side of the valley. It has the peculia- rity of blooming only at long intervals, the common report is every twelfth year. Mr. Evans reports it as having bloomed profusely in 1907 and again in 1919. When it blooms it gives a gorgeous purple tinge to the whole landscape. After blooming it dies and the next crop comes from the seed.

Bauhinia Forest. Combretaceae

Acanthaceaa Terminalia belerica Retz. Aechmanthera tomentosa Nees. )t tomentosa W. and A.

Anacardiaceae Odina wodier Roxb. Compositae

Pistacia integerrima Stewart. Blumea aromatica DC.

Araliaceae Leucomeris spectabilis Don.

Heptopleurum venulosum Seem. Euphorbiaccae

Heteropanax fragrans Seem.

Bixaceae

Bridelia montana Willd. Euphorbia Royleana Bois Flacourtia Ramontchi L' Herit. Flueggia microcarpa Blume.

Burseraceae Glochidon velutinum Wight.

Garuga pinnata Roxb. Mallotus philippinensis Muell.

Celastraceae Phyllanthus Emblica L.

Celastrus paniculata Willd. Sapiuni insigne Benth.