WCP2994

[1]

Kew

31.8.[19]10

My dear Yapp¹

I returned from the continent only Sunday night. I have carefully searched the two photographs for plants which might be named, if only approximately, but I am afraid the result has not been satisfactory. The photographs are beautifully clear and the reason of the failure is more in the lack on my side of familiarity with the Malay vegetation "in natura". Unfortunately, there is no one here just now who is a fairly good botanist and at the same time knows the Malay forest [2] from autopsy. In no.2, the ferns Asplenium nidus, and Acrostichum scandens are unmistakable. What you marked Ixora and Rotang may be Ixora and Calamus (or Daemonorops) sp. The herbage in the foreground consists probably to a considerable extent of Acanthaceae and some Pettaminaceae[sic?]. What the bamboo may be I do not know, and the fern you name "Nephrodium?" is equally uncertain.

No.5. Mr Wright² recognises in your "Nephrodium" Nephrolepis cordifolia, but he is unable to suggest any names for the palms. The Acrostichum [3] scandens is right, and the "Vitis" may be a species of that genus (sens. lat.).[Latin: sensu lato - in the broad sense]) What you marked "? Bauhinia" may be that or an Apocynaceous climber, so far as the stem is concerned. The large leaf however, seems to me to belong to another plant, possibly a Piper. The Melastomaceous plant is in my opinion very likely a species of Phyllagathis. Above it there is a plant with irregularly divided leaves which one ought to run down; but I cannot suggest anything for the moment, unless it is a young Artocarpus; but I doubt.

Would it not be the best plan to send copies of the photogr[aph]. to Ridley³, who ought to be able to make better suggestions.

[4] I have been roaming over a good deal of Germany - from Northern Hesse down to the Vosges and the Bodensee - and Switzerland and seen very much that was new to me. The weather was on the whole fair except for a week in the early part of August. In Switzerland, it was very hot, even high up[.] Mrs. Stapf remained at Meersburg (Bodensee) and has now gone with her sister to Vienna.

With kind regards | Yours sincerely | Otto Stapf⁴ [signature]

I enclose the 2 photographs and your sketches.