12 THE OAK-VEGETATION OF AMERICA. 
On the margin of the forests is found an exceedingly handsome sort 
- of Bamboo (Arundinaria), shooting up tufts of stems to a height of 
25 feet, which are not thicker than a goose-quill, have verticillate 
thread-like branches, from which the bright green and grass-like leaves 
hang down, and form one of the most beautiful vegetable objects I have 
ever met with. The tall, tough, and slender stems bend into light 
curves in all directions, like the rays of a fountain. These few fea- 
tures may to some extent suffice to give an idea of those fine Oak- 
forests, in which the naturalist will find most ample matter for re- 
search. 
Beyond this rich region of plants, at an elevation of 3000 feet, the 
gently sloping plains cease; mountainous lands succeed, and we find 
ourselves already at the foot of the Cordilleras. Palms are no longer 
. . met with; woody Ferns have taken their place. We are now at an 
elevation of between 4000 and 5000 feet, at which the town of Jalapa 
is situated, whose climate and fine vegetation are so vividly described 
by Humboldt. The cool atmosphere, the great moisture, and the 
uneven territory are conditions so favourable for the production of the 
— Oak, that it is here it reaches its maximum in Mexico; and we find ac- 
cordingly that dense forests of many sorts cover the mountain-sides. 
Besides those of the preceding regions, alluded to above, a number of 
other remarkable species make their appearance, surpassing by the 
size of their fruit all others hitherto known; only few of them have as 
yet been described. To these belong Q. Galeotti, with leaves like 
those of the Beech, and globular nuts of the size of a pigeon-apple; 
and next after this Q. insignis, with leaves like the Chestnut, the cup 
. measuring 8 inches and the nut 6 inches round, by 2 in diameter, 
and 14 in length. 
_ Although here, as everywhere else in Mexico, the Oaks are evergreen, 
yet they are nearly leafless during a very short period of the year. 
This is occasioned by the violent northerly winds (Wortes) which fre- 
quently prevail during the winter months, from December until Febru- 
ary, and are accompanied by a cold rain. The leaves are gradually 
. blown off; but it is only in February, immediately before the period of 
.. blossoming, that this state reaches to such an extent, that during a fort- 
. night the Oaks appear almost leafless. Many elegant parasites, which 
.. had almost escaped attention before, are now in flower on the Oaks, 
. such as Juanulloa parasitica, Columnea Schiedeana, many Echeveriæ, 
