THE FLORA OF GUIANA AND TRINIDAD 27 



northern bogs. A very beautiful blue bell-gentian was common. This 

 does not belong to the genus Gentiana, but to a related one, Chilon- 

 anthus. A few ferns were noted, among them the ubiquitous Ptcris 

 aquilina. The shrubby plants belonged mostly to the distinctly trop- 

 ical families Malpighiaceae, Melastomacese, Bubiacese and others. 



Among the showiest flowers collected near the savanna, but at the 

 margin of the forest, was an extremely beautiful rubiaceous shrub, 

 which was not determined. Its large rose-colored bell-shaped flowers 

 were produced in great profusion, and were most ornamental. A large 

 purple Clitoria, an extremely showy papilionaceous creeper, was also 

 common. 



Much the most striking plant of the savanna, however, is a mag- 

 nificent fan-palm, Mauritia fiexuosa, which occurs in groves of con- 

 siderable size, making a very imposing sight. 



Adjoining the savanna was a fairly dense forest, with compara- 

 tively dry soil, although there were numerous clear streams, deep 

 amber brown in color, and in places it was decidedly boggy. As in all 

 the forests, the palms formed the most conspicuous feature of the 

 undergrowth. Ferns and liverworts were more abundant than in the 

 forests near Paramaribo, and at the base of some of the trees a small 

 Trichomanes was not uncommon, the only Hymenophvllacege that were 

 collected. An interesting tree of this forest was the " Balata," a species 

 of Mimusops which yields rubber of fair quality, which is collected in 

 considerable quantities by the natives. There also occurs a species of 

 Hevea, which, however, is much inferior in its product to the Para 

 rubber tree. A not uncommon plant of this forest — and also seen 

 repeatedly elsewhere — is Ravenala Guianensis, much resembling the 

 well-known " traveller's palm," R. Madagascariensis. There was also 

 the usual profusion of other Scitaminese. 



The flora of Surinam is remarkable for the abundance of showy 

 flowers — not a usual condition of things in the wet tropics. Among 

 the most conspicuous of these are many splendid climbing plants — 

 especially various Bignoniacese, Apocynacese, Convolvulacea? and Passi- 

 floraceae. Some of these, like the golden yellow Allamandas and crim- 

 son and rose-colored passion flowers, were truly magnificent. There 

 were also many showy shrubs, especially various Bubiaceas, Malpighi- 

 aceae and Melastomaceae. 



Of the herbaceous plants probably the showiest are the very abun- 

 dant Heliconias. These look much like Cannas — or the larger ones 

 like bananas — and their scarlet and yellow inflorescences are extremely 

 brilliant. There were also great masses of red and yellow Cannas, and 

 other showy Scitaminese — e. g., Costus, Maranta, Thalia, etc. These 

 brilliant flowers occurred in great masses along the margins of the 

 forest, and the railway embankment was a veritable botanical garden. 



