378 BOTANICAL EXCURSION TO SALINAS. 
strikingly resembles a snake, when the thin membrane 
which covers it, is removed. The embryo is spirally twisted, 
or rather coiled up, the radicle long and its extremity clavate 
tending towards the umbilicus, the foliaceous cotyledons are 
marked with curved veins, somewhat contorted and. folded 
up between the radicle and the neck of the embryo. 
A slight curvature is observable in the embryo of several 
Sapindacee, and in the section Dodoneacee it is even twisted ; 
the cotyledons of that Order are generally large, but lam not 
aware that in any of the genera they are foliaceous as In 
Ophiocaryon. 
In Potamogeton, Zannichellia, &c., we have a similar in- 
stance of a spiral and lengthened embryo among Mono- 
cotyledonous plants ; and, among Dicotyledons, we find some- 
thing analogous in Humulus, Cistus, Bunias, Erucaria, 
Salsola, &c. 
The tree has been hitherto only discovered at the lower 
Essequibo, near the junction of the rivers Mazaruni and 
Cuyuni with the Essequibo; chiefly at the banks of the 
small rivers Ampa, Carrau and near Saxacalli. The Indians 
of the interior are perfectly unacquainted with the tree. 
Even at the Demerara river it is unknown, although it runs 
parallel with the Essequibo at a distance of fifteen to twenty 
miles to the eastward of it. 
The tree is in blossom in April and May and I have found 
mature fruits in November and likewise in January. 1am 
not aware that it possesses any medicinal property ; the re- . 
semblance of the kernel to a ‘snake has caused it to be con- - 
sidered by the populace as an antidote for snake poison. lt 
has an acrid, bitter taste. 
Botanical Excursion to Sauinas, an Indian Village ^ 
Chimborazo; by Proressor WILLIAM JAMESON: : 
; The city of Riobamba, capital of the province so named, 
is situated nearly in the centre of an extensive plain between - 
