268 MR. Е. F. IM THURN ON THE PLANTS 
stems, with pretty star-like yellow flowers. Lastly, I found a plant with a flower which, 
because of its form and colour, Гай first sight mistook for a fritillary, like our “ Snake’s- 
head” (Е. meleagris); but it was a new Lisianthus, which Professor Oliver has named 
L. imThurnianus, Oliv., n. вр. [No. 306]. "There grew many small but pretty and 
bright-coloured orchids—two new species of Epidendrum (Е. montigenum, Ridley, n. sp. 
(Хо. 322], and another | No. 304]); also a plant of a new genus of Cryptangieze named by 
Mr. Ridley Zverardia (Е. montana, Ridley | No. 335)). 
So the vegetation of the ledge continued to the top, and indeed actually extended 
over the top (woodcut, fig. 3). 
Fig. 3. 
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View at the point of entrance of the plateau on the top of Roraima. 
The general effect of the vegetation of Roraima, fitly rivalling in this respect the 
marvellously strange geological aspect of the place, is so strange as to be very difficult of 
precise description. It occupies more or less wide tracts, generally almost level, 
between the bare flat rocks and the groups of piled rocks which occupy the greater part 
of the plateau. In such places it forms a dense carpet of vegetation, which is generally 
but a few inches, never more than a couple of feet, in height, except where, from 
its general level, rise a few scattered individuals of the one shrub of any conspicuous 
height, Bonnetia Roraime, Oliv., n. sp. [No. 330]—and that was never more than 
from 30 to 40 inches in height—or the many and very remarkable flower-stems of 
Abolboda Sceptrum, Oliv. [No. 312], which, to my great delight, at that height still 
bore its beautiful blooms, the appearance of which I have already described. Through 
this carpet of vegetation ran many small streams; and even in other places much water 
everywhere saturated the turf. A very few small plants also grew in the crevices of the 
piled'rocks, which otherwise were bare of vegetation. 
