THE FLOEA OF COSTA EICA. 159 



such as Artanthe, Peperomia, Miconia, and Clidemia, grow up to 9000 feet. Among 

 other plants forming the underwood may be mentioned Proclesia veraguensis, Sipho- 

 campylus gutierrezii, Centropogon costaricanus, TJgni cerstedii, Hedyosmum calloso- 

 serratum, Oreinotinus stellato-tomentosus, Ardisia irasuensis, A. Icevis, Eupatorium 

 ixiocladon, Oreopanax cerstedianum, and, at the upper limit of the oaks, Comarostylis 

 rubescens and Buddleia alpina. At 10,000 feet oaks become more and more stunted, 

 and are quite covered with Usnea ; then all arboreous vegetation suddenly ceases, and 

 alpine plants take its place. 



The abrupt and striking contrast between these two levels proceeds from a sudden 

 change in the nature of the ground— the trachyte, covered with vegetable mould, 

 being succeeded by ashes and volcanic sand. In the lowest part of this region the 

 ground is thickly carpeted with Alchemilla and Lupinus, and the dead white stems of 

 a number of Comarostylis rubescens are scattered among them. The ground, as it rises, 

 becomes more and more bare, and, on reaching the large flat crest which forms the 

 summit of the volcano at 11,000 feet, nothing is to be seen but scanty tufts of the 

 woolly-leaved Gnaphalium lavandulaceum, lichens, Castilleja irasuensis, Sphacele 

 alpina, Vaccinium densiflorum, Pernettya coriacea, and two other species, which 

 form thick bushes six to seven feet high, covered with fruit and flowers, and clothed 

 with Usnea, and a leafless yellow Viscum. A species of Hypericum, resembling 

 H. brathys, and having brilliant yellow flowers, is found here often covered with black 

 fungus [Scorias robinsoni). 



At 9 o'clock a.m. on Jan. 20th the thermometer was 41° in the shade, and each 

 night a thin coating of ice was formed, which melted in the course of the day. From 

 the summit the most splendid view possible is obtained : on the west is seen the Pacific 

 Ocean and the port of Punta Arenas ; on the north, where the volcano falls away 

 almost perpendicularly for several thousand feet, lies a vast uninhabited country covered 

 with virgin forests and hitherto unexplored ; it stretches from the volcanic chain as far 

 as the river of San Juan de Nicaragua. On the east, beyond the orater, the Volcan 

 de Turrialba, which constantly pours forth smoke and vapour, is visible. On the eastern 

 extremity of the small tableland which forms the summit of Irazu, and 200 to 300 feet 

 lower, rise two craters which, though of very different age, are so closely united that 

 they might be taken for twin craters. The one on the south is much the older, and is 

 partly covered with forest. The other, which is turned to the north, is a completely 

 bare cone of ashes ; and at its base are three deep cavities, one of which constantly 

 throws up sulphurous vapours. This, doubtless, is the new crater which, according to 

 native accounts, was formed in 1723. 



The Volcan de Turrialba is almost inaccessible, and had never been ascended by any 

 traveller. It lies to the north-east of Irazu, from which it can be seen rising in an 

 irregular cone to almost the same height. The north-east slope is very steep, and 

 several crevasses may be seen, from which smoke and vapour are continually rising. 



