304 APPENDIX. 



stachya cerea, Isochilus linearis, Epidendrum vitellinum, &c. ; but there is no Stanhopea, 

 no Cyrtopodium, no Acropera, and no Oncidium with fleshy leaves; and pines and 

 arbutuses begin to dominate. 



To this subregion may be reckoned the neighbourhood of Oaxaca (declivities of the 

 Gerro San Felipe), a part of the Misteca Alta (Pinoles, &c.) ; the Cerro de la Virgen, 

 near Juquila, a few leagues distant from the Pacific Vcean ; the neighbourhood of 

 Sola, in the district of Gavezia (Socorra, Castrasana) ; the beautiful woods of Llano 

 Verde, in the State of Oaxaca ; the neighbourhood of Vigas, near Jalapa ; a portion 

 of the peak of Orizaba, near the Rancho de Torozinapa ; the flanks of the Cofre de 

 Perote ; the mountains near Orizaba, &c. in the State of Vera Cruz ; Jesus del Monte, 

 near Morelia, and the mountains of Irapeo. 



The Intermediate Gold Begion. — This subregion is rich in orchids, and on the 

 trachytic flanks of the peak of Orizaba some members of this order are found above 

 10,800 feet of absolute elevation, among them Habenaria prasina. It is characterized 

 by handsome oaks and lofty pines, beneath which grow Pyrola and Chimaphila. Ferns 

 abound, as also arboreous Ericaceae (Arbutus, spp.) and Asclepiadese. The Cucurbitacea? 

 are represented by the solitary genus Sicyos ; grasses increase with the altitude, and 

 here, as on the coast, they are mostly tufted kinds, though such are very rare in the 

 intervening regions. The forests shelter numerous Ranunculacea?, Labiatse, Gen- 

 tianacea?, herbaceous and frutescent Rosacea? ; and the marshy places are inhabited by 

 species of Eutoca, various Umbelliferas, and Ophioglossum. Finally, a few succulent 

 plants are found on the elevated peaks near Oaxaca and Zimapatam ; among them 

 Mamillaria nitida and M. polychlora. There is a constant reign of humidity in the 

 forests, and electrical discharges are frequent and violent. The mean temperature 

 varies from 50° to 60°. 



The cold regions of the two branches of the Cordilleras abound in orchids, several 

 of which are common to both. The richest localities lie between 8200 and 9200 feet 

 of absolute altitude. Noteworthy among those inhabiting the eastern cordillera of 

 Oaxaca are : Epidendrum erubescens, which fastens its long pseudobulbs on the trunks 

 of oak trees, and develops flower-stems of the great length of thirty-five to forty feet ; 

 Pleurothallis aurea, Capita macrostachya, Arpophyllum spicatum, Epidendrum guttatum, 

 Malaxis myurus, Corallorhiza bulbosa, Epidendrum virgatum, E. varicosum, E. ledi- 

 folium, Govenia capitata, G. superba, Spiranthes galeottiana, Cattleya citrina, Epiden- 

 drum ligulatum, E. arbusculum,, E. pruinosum, E. sisyrinchiifolium, Odontoglossum 

 ccerulescens, 0. galeottianum, Oncidium graminifolium, and Alamania punicea. 



The oak-forests and gneissic rocks of the Misteca and of the western branch of the 

 cordillera of Oaxaca present an equally rich orchid flora. Here is a specimen of it : 

 Odontoglossum membranaceum, Lwlia albida, L. furfuracea, Epidendrum erubescens 

 E. guttatum, E. costatum, E. pulchellum, E. subulatifolium, Pleurothallis mesophylla, 

 Spiranthes pubens, Oncidium macropterum, 0. rarifiorum, Bletia purpurata, and 

 Habenaria acutiflora. 



