BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 575 
shape of Gloxinia speciosa. I verily believe, on many trees, 
there were at least 10,000 flowers. I have preserved nume- 
rous specimens of this fine plant, accompanied with the 
seed-vessels ; therefore you will, when you receive them, soon 
find the genus to which it belongs. On the banks of the 
river under the shade of trees, I met with a few plants of a 
Gesnera new to me, having a large tuberous root and pale red 
flowers. The commonest tree in the neighbourhood of 
Chuquisaca is the Schinus Molle, which grows to a large size, 
and is highly ornamental, when its long racemes of pink 
fruit are ripe. On the large trees we saw many parasitical 
species of Tillandsia, and a few species of Orchidacee, 
but not in flower. The Cactee are very numerous in this 
part of the country, and I collected about twelve species 
of Cereus and Echinocactus, many with very fine flowers, 
and all different from those of Chile. I have forwarded 
plants to Valparaiso, and by the time you receive this, 
I hope they may have arrived in England. From the 
nature of some of them, I am apprehensive they will not 
endure the long voyage to Europe. 
* Aftera month’s residence in Chuquisaca and its environs, 
I came on to Cochabamba, through the warm and unhealthy 
valleys of Moxotoro, Rio Grande and Misque, where I found 
a variety of plants, birds, &c., and I arrived here on the 24th 
of December. I have now spent three months in this place, 
which is the most delightful climate I ever experienced, the 
thermometer ranging from 68? to 74? in the shade. 
* During my residence here, I have examined the moun- 
tains in the vicinity, and have madea considerable collection. 
of dried plants, too numerous to mention. Among them are 
four species of Calceolaria, distinct from those of Chile, 
several Salvias and many genera new to me. One of the 
handsomest plants I have seen here, is a species of Begonia, 
with a large tuberous root and a fine red flower, 3 inches in 
diameter. I have sent tubers of this to Chile with direc- 
tions for England. The leaves are large and. shining, and 
the plant attains about 2 feet; it grows in arich pa 
