131 
of growth, in various parts of the world. I say nothing 
about the other parts of my collection, which are each of them 
proportionably extensive. 
* The most numerous Natural Order of plants in Brazil, 
(that is, from the tropic of Capricorn to the Equinoctial Line, 
the northern limit of my travels,) is the Composite. Then 
follow the Graminee, Rubiacee, Malvacee, Melastomacee, 
Myrtacee, Leguminose, , Orchidee, Terebinthacee, Euphor- 
biacee, Cyperoidee, Aroidee, Malpighiacee, Acanthacee, Big- 
noniacee, Convolvulacee, Apocinee, Scrophularinee, Solanacea, 
Scitaminee, Guttifere, Bromeliacee, Urticee, Salicarie, Anno- 
nacee, Tiliacee, &c. These, though mentioned rather at 
random, will give you an idea of the Botany of my Brazilian 
Journey. It is remarkable, that I scarcely found a single re- 
presentative of the Order Cruciferae. 
* According to an account, kept in my Geographical Cata- 
logue, during my Brazilian Travels, I find I have 7022 
species, including a few I collected in Portugal, Madeira, and 
Teneriffe." 
A general sketch or picture of the vegetable forms is given 
in another letter, written at Fulham in December, 1830. 
** You have from all quarters beard the most animated des- 
criptions of the luxuriance and richness of the vegetation of 
Brazil; and with them I warmly agree. But this is become 
almost a fashion, and in Europe it seems the general opinion 
that the whole of that country is clothed with the most 
magnificent forests, and of gigantic growth. This idea, though 
correct with respect to all the maritime districts, the courses of 
the rivers, and the greater part of the country lying under the 
Equinoctial Line, is, however, not at all applicable to vast 
tracts in the provinces of San Paulo and Goyaz. There I 
have traversed boundless plains or open regions, some of 
them covered with fine pasture, formed by a vast variety of the 
most interesting Gramineae ; others with grasses, intermingled 
with small plants and shrubs of the fine-leaved Melastoma- 
tee, the Malpighiacee, the herbaceous Rubiaceae, and Com- 
Posite ; others with a varied clothing of annual and perennial 
flowers, (almost disappearing during the dry season,) faintly 
$ K2 
