Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

igiS-] H. N. Ridley: Botany of Gunong Tahan. 193
Abundant on the Padang in slightly damp spots. In
more shady spots the bracts are more green, and there is a
slight tendency to lengthening of the panicle. This species is
undoubtedly near to CI. undiUatum, Thw. {Tricostnlaria
finibristyloides, Benth.), but that is a much more elongate tall
plant forming great tussocks of long leaves in sandy spots at
Pekan, Setul, etc., and occurring in Ceylon. This plant is
short, dense and reduced, and has the habit of a rush, and
there are also distinct differences in the form of the glumes.
Hi 270. Cladium Maingayi, Clarke. Very common on the
Padang. Occurs also on Mt. Ophir and on Gunong Bubu in
Perak, otherwise only known from Celebes.
\^m 271. Lepidospekma chinense, Nees. Common all over
the Padang up to the summit of Gunong Tahan. Also occurs
in Mt. Ophir and Gunong Kerbau, collected by Mohammed
\^^ Aniff at 7,000 feet elevation.
\^m Distribution. South China.
Hp The typical form with fairly stout glaucous stems, attaining
a height of six feet, grows among Gleichenia and other
fairly tall plants in damp thickets as high as 7,186 feet altitude.
On the open bare Padang in cracks in rocks and among the
quartz-fragments grows another form extremely abundant,
much reduced, and dwarfed, for which I propose the varietal
name of var. alpina. Dwarf tufted plant, 6 to 8 inches tall;
stems rigid, obscurely angled, as are the leaves. Leaves
acute, almost pungent, nearly as long as the flowering stems.
Panicle an inch long, denser, with very short branches much
reduced. Hypogynous bristles ovate-acuminate, broader than
in the type.
Very different in appearance and habit from the tall rushlike
type, with its terete, rather pithy stems, and elongate
slender panicle, 3 inches long, with branches of several
spikelets, but it seems only a dwarfed, stiffer, and reduced
alpine form.
272. Rhynchospora glauca, Vahl. On slightly damp
spots on the Padang. A very slender form.
Distribution. All the Tropics, except India.
273. Gahnia javanica, Mor. antea, p. 60. Common on
the Padang. In open rocky spots it develops a stout ropelike
prostrate stem about 3 feet long covered with leaf-bases and
roots. This usually lies in a curve on the ground. The
inflorescence of this Padang form is thin and poor compared
to the robust panicles of the plants grown in better soil.
Distribution. From Fiji and New Caledonia, through the
Malay Archipelago and Peninsula, to Kedah Peak, from 1,500
to 7,000 feet. And on Gunong Kerbau, Perak, 5,500-6,600 feet.
274. Gahnia tristis, Nces. Not common here. It
occurs also on the ridges by Wray's Camp. This plant is
common near the sea-coast in Singapore, Johore, etc., and also
on the mountains of Ophir and Kedah Peak.