268 MR. SPENCER LE M. MOORE—PHANEROGAMIC BOTANY 
Banisteria constricta, Griseb., an Amazonian plant); Cassie dysophylla, Benth. ; Myrtles 
(Myrcia dasyblasta, Berg, Eugenia miniata, S. Moore) ; the pretty Lippia lasiocalycina, 
Cham., and many others. Grassy vegetation is abundant wherever circumstances favour 
its obtaining a foothold. Arthropogon villosus, Nees, Andropogon (condensatus, H. B. K., 
ternatus, Nees, virginicus, Linn.), Melinis minutiflora, Beauv. (the well-known ‘ capim 
gordura ” of the Brazilians), Paspalum tropicum, Doell, and the local Panicum ansatum, 
Trin., are all to be found here. On stream-sides you will see Jussica nervosa, Poir., and 
although, with the exception of grasses, lowly vegetation is not abundant in August, yet 
such does occur ; Justicia metallicorum, S. Moore, Buchnera palustris, Spreng., and the 
terrestrial orchid Stenorhynchus australis, Lindl., may be cited in support of the statement. 
Through romantic scenery you ascend the plateau by a fairly good road, a creditable 
piece of engineering in so remote a part of the republic. Dr. Fonseca*, judging from the 
supposed heights of various places up the river from Buenos Ayres and Rosario to 
Corumbá (which place he considers to be nearly 400 feet above the sea), puts the 
elevation of Cuyabá at about 500 feet. This is at the port +, above which the ground 
whereon the city is built rises at least 150 feet higher. There is no sensible increase 
of level until the entrance to the pass is reached; approaching this, the escarpment of 
- the plateau is seen extending on either hand far as the eye can reach, and rising to about 
1800 feet above the lower country, this giving a total elevation of about 2500 feet above 
sea-level. It must be remembered, however, that this estimate, although probably fairly 
correct. is approximate only, the country never having been levelled. At the entrance to, or 
in, the pass I gathered Lrythroxylon daphnites, Mart.; Helicteres chapadensis, S. Moore; 
the milk-white trusses of Serjania perulacea, Radlk., a beautiful climber; Hirtella 
americana, Aubl., and H. collina, S. Moore; the tall Justicia oreadum, S. Moore; Piper 
asperiplium, Ruiz & Pav.; Spiranthes grandiflora, Lindl.; Renealmia foliosa, 8. Moore, 
with leaves a metre long, scarlet scapes and purple leaf-sheaths, as well as other plants. 
The plateau is a good instance of that type of country called by Brazilians “ cerrado.” 
It consists of neglected-looking land with small, copiously branching trees, a certain 
amount of shrubby undergrowth, and grass in plenty, the latter sometimes forming small, 
almost treeless “ campos.” It is not without justice that travellers have compared these 
cerrados with orchard-land in our own country. Somewhat deep valleys, well timbered, 
and of which the bottoms are the beds of streams, often dry in August, cut into the 
plateau, whose uppermost portion is composed of brick-red-sandstone, which weathers in 
places into grey castellated forms of wonderful variety. Among the trees on the plateau 
may be noticed Byrsonima verbascifolia, Rich., with a plentiful show of saffron flowers ; the 
Lythraceous Physocalymua scaberrima, Pohl, its cloud of purple blossoms affording a 
splendid sight; Luhea speciosa, Willd.; Euphorbiacez such as Maprounia guianensis, Aubl., 
and Mabea fistulifera, Mart., Connarus fulvus, Planch., and many others. You are still 
accompanied by Tabebuia aurea ?, Benth. € Hook. f.; this you can distinguish even to the 
far distance by a golden gleam amidst surrounding boscage. The grassy plots are now and 
= * © Viagem ao redor do Brasil (1875-1878), Rio, 1881, (p. 35). 
37 Derby E = Geography and Geology of Brazil,’ p. 11, translated from ‘ O Brasil geographico e historico,” of 
J. E. Wappeus) gives 123 metres (about 400 feet) as the height of Cuyabá port, 
