BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 507 
feet high, crowned with light and elegant fronds : their stems, 
covered with the rhizoma and fronds of other scandent 
Ferns, imparting a grace and elegance to the scenery, such 
as I had never before beheld. The beautiful Aumming- 
birds were darting with great velocity from flower to flower, 
exhibiting no timidity, and often approaching within a few 
inches of those, whose only desire was to destroy them. 
A species of Neottia, resembling N. speciosa, but flowering 
before the leaves appear, we met with sparingly. 
24th. We returned to Kingston through a picturesque 
country, still presenting very few plants in flower, and on 
the 26th quitted that town for St. Mary's, by way of Spanish 
Town. Ina lagoon near the ferry, Pontederia azurea was luxu- 
riting, a beautiful aquatic, producing its deep blue flowers © 
in abundance; this is worthy of a place in every stove. 
In the salt marshes I observed large tracts, completely 
covered with Batis maritima, a singular plant, called Jamaica 
Samphire, which makes excellent pickle. The extensive La- 
goons about the ferry on both sides of the road exhibit 
Typha latifolia, an old acquaintance in Europe, I believe 
identical with the European plant; also Alisma cordifolia, 
with several species of Cyperus. We reached Spanish Town 
ìn the evening; the heat in travelling through these sayan- 
nahs is great, and the vegetation by no means interesting, 
a few species of Mimosa and Cassia forming the principal 
vegetation. 
Sleptat Spanish Town, and started at five o'clock, a.m. of the 
27th, by the outlet of the Cobri; after passing through about 
eight miles of plain, the road becamé rocky and the vegetation 
Somewhat changed ; I saw two fine species of Laurus, scenting 
the atmosphere with their fragrance, Portlandia grandiflora, 
very beautiful, about 20 feet in height, covered with its trum- 
pet-like flowers, Crossing the Rio Cobri, the rocks rose lofty 
on both sides. On moist banks Gesneria acaulis was abun- 
"Ant, a pretty species; the woods are here very luxuriant, 
E ense trees of Cedrela odorata, and Bombax Ceiba, were 
.. red with Bromeliaceous plants, the highest branches not 
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