152 APPENDIX. 



the numerous small rivers. In the neighbourhood of Roaring Creek the ordinary pine- 

 ridge plants give place to groves of oak (probably Quercus virens) ; and some of these 

 oaks attain a great size. Between the pine-ridges and the rivers are what are called the 

 Cohune-ridges, in consequence of the predominance of the noble Cohune palm (Attalea 

 cohune). The vegetation here is exceedingly rich and varied ; but nothing so impresses 

 the traveller, Morris says, as the profusion and diversity of palms, including abundance of 

 Oreodoxa oleracea and Euterpe edulis *, both West-Indian palms, of which we have no 

 other evidence of their occurring within our limits. Other prominent genera are Bactris, 

 Geonoma, Thrinax, Sabal, Acrocomia, Acanthorhiza, Desmoncus, and Chamcedorea ; 

 several of them, like the last, being represented by a number of species. Prominent 

 among orchids are the genera Oncidium and Epidendrum, but Gongora, Chysis, Maxil- 

 laria, Cycnoehes, Catasetum, Mormodes, Coryanthes, and Dichcea are also well represented. 

 The two commonest orchids are SchomburgMa tibicina and Epidendrum bicornutum, 

 growing in the greatest profusion, even within reach of the salt spray from the sea. 

 Ferns are abundant in the shady depths of the Cohune-ridges, though there appears to 

 be only one species of tree-fern, an Alsophila. In conclusion, Mr. Morris, who is well 

 acquainted with tropical vegetation, says : — " It would be impossible to describe 

 satisfactorily the rich profusion and abundance of plant-life as seen in the Central- 

 American forests. Each tree, with its huge branches covered with orchids and 

 bromeliads, and its trunk festooned with climbing aroids and tresses of ferns and club- 

 mosses, is a botanic garden in itself." 



Guatemala. 



This province exceeds in size any of those south of it, having an approximate area 

 of 60,000 square miles; and the character of the vegetation, if not its details, is almost 

 as well known as that of South Mexico, especially of the Pacific side, where are the 

 highest mountains. The vegetation is so essentially the same as that of South Mexico- 

 that it is unnecessary to enter into particulars. Some of the northern genera repre- 

 sented on the Mexican peaks do not appear to reach Guatemala ; though this is mere 

 conjecture, as the flora of the uppermost zone of vegetation in Guatemala has been 

 little investigated. For what is known of it we are indebted to Hartweg, and more 

 especially to Salvin and Godman. The alpine element we have examined is almost 

 exclusively from the Volcan de Fuego. 



Mr. O. Salvin and Mr. G. C. Champion (who has also spent some years in Guate- 

 mala) have put together their joint observations on the vegetation of various districts 

 of Guatemala, which, although wanting in specific details, are highly interesting to the 

 phyto-geographer at home. They follow here : — 



" The vegetation of Guatemala is probably as varied as that of Southern Mexico, but 

 there are no large desert tracts as in Northern Mexico. The main mountain-chain is 

 * (Ersted's species of this genus (huj. op. iii. p. 401) are imperfectly known, and may be the same. 



