BOTANICAL NOTES. 651 
limit of the Calceolarie, although I, many years ago, recollect 
gathering C. pinnata in the ditches of Callao, on the coast 
of Peru; but then we have a difference of 12° of latitude. 
In this country, however, they scarcely occur below the 
limit just cited. C. ericoides (No. 25), grows at 13,000 
feet, and C.—(No. 27), still higher. A third species is 
peculiar to the rocky summit of Pichincha. 
Columellia sericea (No. 22), and Buddleia—(No. 23), are 
among the first of the forest trees that occur on descend- 
ing the western flank of Pichincha. Their flowers, as well as 
foliage, are very beautiful, and they are, moreover, quite 
hardy trees; for they thrive admirably on the heights of 
Pichàn, 12,986 feet above the level of the Pacific. "They 
would prove eminently ornamental, could they be introduced 
into our parks in England. 
ONAGRARIEX. 
In a country like equinoctial America, where nature adorns 
the animal and vegetable kingdoms with colours the most 
brilliant, it might be supposed that certain plants, whose type 
is common to both hemispheres, would, within the tropics, 
excelin beauty those of the same family that are natives of 
Europe. We find, however, that this does not always 
occur. Were it possible to bring under one point of view 
the whole species of a family so constituted, I am con- 
vinced that, in many instances, we should select, as the 
more ornamental, those that belonged to the old conti- 
nent, 
This remark was suggested on gathering a little Epilobium, 
(No. 283), a native of the Andes, and comparing it, from 
memory, with those of the same family in Europe. The S. 
American plant, of which there is but one species, might be 
readily overlooked, so very insignificant does it appear, and 
were it placed by the side of our E. angustifolium, the com- 
parison would be exceedingly to the disadvantage of. the 
former. I might apply the same observation to the Ranun- 
culacee, comparatively few in genera as well as in species— 
