VOYAGE OF H.M.S. HERALD. 863 
from its bracts mixed with lime-juice gives an excellent scarlet dye. 
In the city of Durango the same plant is cultivated in every garden, 
and is there termed “ Noche bueno," because it flowers about Christ- 
mas (Noche bueno of the Spaniards). 
Leaving Santa Lucia I passed Ocotes,—a place deriving its name 
from the Ocote, a Fir from which pitch is made,—and reached, on the 
lst of December, the rancho of Guadalupe, situated about 6,000 feet 
above the sea. Consisting of porphyry and melted rocks, forming 
steep mountains, awful precipices and rugged ravines, all covered by a 
dense forest, the vicinity of Guadalupe gives a fair idea of the Sierra 
Madre in general. The Amentacee and Conifere form the principal 
part of the vegetation. The most common trees are Oaks, of which 
the herbarium contains sixteen species; but they have neither the size 
nor the grandeur of the Oaks of northern Europe. Of Conifere there 
are eight, belonging to the genera Pinus, Abies, Cupressus, Juniperus, 
and Taxodium.  Eminently numerous are the Ericacee: the genus 
Arbutus alone being represented by eight species, five of which are - 
middle-sized trees, with greenish flowers, three, low shrubs, bearing 
scarlet blossoms. Families of great extent are the Composite, Papi- 
lionacee, and Scrophularinee. The Lobeliacee, Gentianee, Gnotherec, 
and Zabiate are less abundant. 
Of all the localities in the Sierra, the barancas, or ravines, are the 
most productive. "Near Guadalupe I found in such a place, among 
many other rare plants, a Zonicera, a Viburnum, a rooting Hydrangea, | 
and a new (?) species of Cupressus (no. 2000), vernacularly termed 
Cedro de la sierra.* Itis atree attaining a height of 100 to 150 feet, — 
whose branches are nearly horizontal, differing in this respect consider- - 
ably from C. sempervirens, Linn. The leaves are small, and smell like 
those of Juniperus Sabina. In habit the Cedro resembles the Tascate, a — — 
Juniperus (no. 2001) very common throughout the sierra. Both, how- — 
ever, may easily be distinguished by the fruit, and the localities in 
which they grow. The Cedro only vegetates near running streams, 
while the Tascate is found in dry places. The genus Cupressus having 
a representative in the Mexican flora, it is remarkable that C. semper- 
virens, cultivated in the gardens, never produces fruit, though plenty of 
flowers. In order to propagate it, seeds must be procured from Europe. 
* The tree called * Cedro de la tierra caliente " by the — is Cedrela © 
odorata, Linn: 
842 os = 
