48 RUBIACEJE OF CENTRAL AMERICa. 
species, which have been found by myself and others in Central 
America, taken according to its natural boundaries, which in fact dif- 
fer but little from the political; namely the narrow portion of conti- 
nental America situated between Panama and Tehuantepec*. I now 
proceed to offer some observations on their occurrence and distribution 
generally, and their proportion in the above country, as compared with 
other parts of tropical America. I have remarked already, that Ru- 
biacee belong to those families, which perform in all respects an im- 
portant rőle in that country. Scarcely a place can be named, from the 
coast, to an elevation of 7 to 8000 feet, in which those plants do not 
constitute the principal part of the vegetation, and on account of their 
very different appearances and qualities, contribute in a variety of ways 
to form the characteristic features. While the small Spermacocee ap- 
pear mostly like weeds, as the Stel/ate, which they habitually resemble, 
in northern countries; and while Coccocypselum extends its creeping 
shoots over the ground, the widely spread Chiococce are almost 
climbing, and the handsome Maneltie twining like Convolvuli among 
the branches of shrubs; and others (Zavaia, Xerococcus, and Ophryo- 
coccus) grow like parasites on the stems of trees, hanging down like 
Gesnerie. But the majority are either shrubs or under-shrubs (Bou- 
vardia, Lindenia, Psychotria, Palicourea, Nonatelia, Chomelia, Ron- 
deletia, Higginsia, Gonzalea, etc.), or trees (Sabicea, Alibertia, Macro- 
cnemum, Calycophyllum, Genipa), forming an essential part of the forests. 
Many of these are besides remarkable for their profusion of splendid 
blossoms (Palicourea, Bouvardia, and Rondeletia), or large and brilliant 
floral leaves (Calycophyllum, Macrocnemum), and belong to the orna- 
ments of tropical forests. 
In regard to the number of species, they are about equally distri- 
buted over the entire country ; occurring as frequently in the humid pri- 
meval forest of the eastern side, as in the dry Catinga forest; which oc- 
cupies the western slope; but here the large woody forms predominate. 
The forests of large tracts, particularly between Granada and Realejo, 
consist almost exclusively of so-called Madroño (Calycophyllum candi- 
dissimum), a lofty tree which, in the proper season, has a magnificent 
appearance, on account of its numerous white flowers and floral leaves ; 
* I shall take some other opportunity to attempt showing, that this portion consti- 
tutes one in all respects defined and natural whole. Central America has accordingly 
its characteristic flora, equally distinct from those of Mexico, the Antilles, and South 
