WCP2946

[1]^1,2

Leiden

21 June 1909

Dear Sir,

In answer on your letter of June 17th I can only give you a very few information.

The total number of flowering plants of the Malay Archipelago I estimate as having 10000 species.

For the whole island of Java I estimate 4000 specimens of phanerogams, a number which has been given already by Junghuhn³in his book on Java.

The botanical mountain-reserve on the Gede (Pangerango [Pangrango]) is indeed very interesting and very rich, but I know other parts in Java with a much richer larger number of phanerogams, e.g. the small island Noesa [Nusa] Kambangan near Tjilatjap [Cilacap]. On that island I collected on an area about 3 square Kilometer six hundred of arborescent species of phanerogams and about 1800 species of not-arborescent phanerogams. That-for This island is situated about 0-50 m. altitude ^{4, 5}

On mount Gede (Pangerango) between 1450 m. altitude and the top at 3030 m. altitude the number of forest trees is only about 350 species on the same area and about 1400 species of not-arborescent phanerogams.⁶

In the small part, of N.E. Celebes [Sulawesi], called Manahasa [Minahasa], and so exceedingly well known to you, I collected in about 4 months between 0 and 2000 m. altitude: 665 trees, 215 climbing or twining shrubs and herbs, and 495 species of erect shrubs and herbs. I estimate the number of not-arborescent^{climbing and not climbing} species each at least about 300 species more than the number I collected, so the numbers would be for the Minahasa: 665 (or 700), 515 and 795 species, totally about 2000 species of phanerogams.⁷

The numbers I have given you are very rough, but are I hope for the comparison for some use. ⁸

Yours very truly | S. H. Koorders [signature]