646 BOTANICAL NOTES. 
sessed by this species of fodder, the lower branches being 
alone accessible. 
In the deep and hot vallies of the Andes, 6000—7000 
feet, where the Cactee derive their nourishment more from 
the air than from the soil, the Mimose assume the appear- 
ance of shrubs or diminutive trees. I recollect, many years 
ago, while travelling in the Province of Loxa, finding 
a shrubby Mimosa, remarkable for the beauty of its flowers, 
resembling a tissue of crimson silk. Two of the species 
advance nearly to the level of Quito. Mimosa—(No. 12), 
with rose-coloured flowers, grows on the banks of the river 
Machangara, not 200 feet below the level of the city. It 
is associated with a fragrant white-flowered species, more 
abundant, however, on the plains of San Antonio, a small 
village situated directly under the equator, and elevated 
8,500 feet above the level of the sea. 
All the European Leguminose used as articles of food, 
are successfully cultivated in the temperate regions of the 
Andes. 
GENTIANE4E. 
These, as in Europe, are peculiar to the more elevated 
lands, with the exception of Erythrea Quitensis, which, 
if I mistake not, grows also on the alluvial country of - | 
Guayaquil, On emerging from the forest that extends from 
* Camino real," (7,852 feet) downward to the flat country 
on a level with the coast, Gentiana—(No. 15), is the first 
of the tribe that presents itself. Its superior limit is 12,000 
feet, or just beyond the point where the Cerealia cease to 
be cultivated. At 9,000 feet we meet with the diminutive - 
G. sedifolia, (No. 20), with a corolla of pale blue or white, 
and dotted in the centre. I believe that it is universally D. 
found on the Andes, for many degrees north and south 
of the Equator. Its range on the flanks of these mountains 
is from the elevation just stated, to the highest limit of 
vegetable life; but in the latter station, there is a remarkable 
difference of the corolla, both in size and colour. 1t also 
