BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 203 
new purple-blossomed Bletia, of which I have since found a 
variety with pure white flowers, and have obtained roots of 
both; also a prettysmall-leaved and yellow-flowered Callisthene 
and a magnificent Melocactus, the: plant of which is four or 
five inches in diameter, with long recurved spines, and bears 
fine white flowers measuring three or four inches in length, 
and when expanded 21 inches across. I possess a great many 
plants of this Melocactus, which 1 hope to be able to preserve 
alive. I also found three species of Helicteres, and one of the 
beautiful and odoriferous genus Spiranthera of St Hilaire. 
It is perhaps the S. odoratissima of that author, as it agrees 
tolerably with the description in De Candolles Prodro- 
mus, but the flowers of my plant are pure white: also a 
splendid species of Norantea, similar to the one I sent from 
Pernambuco, a beautiful purple-blossomed Diplusodon, a very 
handsome suffruticose Bignonia, about a foot high with pale 
yellow flowers; it grows in round clusters about a foot broad, 
and is common on dry upland campos; a new Ichthyothere, 
half-a-foot high, numerous and fine species of Malpighiacee, 
an Eryngium, a large yellow-flowered Qualea, perhaps the - 
same as one sent from Oeiras, &c., &c. Weremained among 
the Indians in the Aldea of Douroa fortnight. The mission 
was founded. by the Jesuits more than a century ago, and is 
now fast falling into decay; it contains about 250 persons in all, 
by far the greater part of whom are but little removed in 
Point of civilization from their savage brethren of the woods. 
During my stay here, I made considerable additions to my 
stock ; among others I may mention two species of Diplusodon 
in fruit, a new species of the genus Encyclia (of Hooker), and 
another Ichthyothere, a suffruticose marsh-plant, about five feet 
high. A beautiful Rubiaceous shrub, with numerous scarlet 
flowers about three inches long and narrow lanceolate leaves, 
attracted my particular attention; it is probably a 
Portlandia, and grows on the banks of a small stream which 
Passes the Aldea of Douro, its roots being almost always 
Covered with water, and its stem attaining a height of four 
feet. I also found a fine Posoqueria and a little dendroid 
