THE OAK-VEGETATION OF AMERICA. a 
of Oaks that the opinion prevails, that on reaching it, there is security 
against the yellow fever, black vomit, and typhus, which prevail on the 
coast. This opinion, though correct and founded on experience, ad- 
mits of being extended much further than the inhabitants suppose; 
for it applies also to those parts of the coast, which are occupied — 
by the above-mentioned low species of Oaks; these grow only in lo- | 
calities where there is a brisk change of air, a free outlet of moisture, 
and where no accumulation of putrescent vegetable matter can take 
place. The heat here, though very great, exercises no deleterious in- . 
fluence on the health. I have never heard the herdmen, who constitute 
the scanty population of the savanas, where the coast Oaks are pro- 
duced, speak of those diseases; and I have nowhere been myself ; 
better health than there. The principal species which distinguish this 
region are, Q. Jalapensis, one of the largest of Mexican Oaks, with 
smooth, toothed leaves; Q. Alamo, a stupendous tree with large, co- 
riaceous leaves, woolly and white underneath; Q. polymorpha, a small 
crooked species with woolly, grey leaves; Q. Mexicana, with lanceolate, 
willow-like leaves; Q. Ghiesbregtii, a very fine tree, having smooth, 
entire leaves; besides several undescribed species. They are orna- 
mented by a crowd of parasites; climbing 4roidec embrace and partly 
conceal the stems, with their large, fleshy, and shining foliage; Philo- 
dendra hang down from the branches in festoons; while large tufts of 
fine-flowered Orchidee (Laelia, Epidendra, Odontoglossa, Marmodes, 
Stanhope, Trichopilie, and many others), several variegated Ti//andsie, 
with other Ananas-like plants and also Ferns, and herbaceous Pipera, 
cover the surface of the trees, and perform the same office as Mosses 
and Lichens do in our forests. Under the shade of the Oaks gr 
Chamedoree ; and on their roots remarkable parasites are found, s1 
as the scarlet Monotropa coccinea, and Conopholis sylvatica, which 
answer to our Orobanche. of 
A variety of woody twiners connect the stems and render the forests 
impenetrable; such as Banisteria, Paullinia, Serjana, thorny Sarsapa 
rillas, and climbing Rubi. The wild Vine surmounts the tops of the - 
trees and there intermingles its countless pendulous clusters of glau- 
cous-blue grapes with the acorns*. 
R On a Oak, which was to an unusual extent overwhelmed wai 
Vine, leag eg ae of grapes were gathered, prs 180 bottles. ^ i 
which was made iuto aa exeellent vinegar. E 
