131 



of growth, in various parts of the world. I say nothing 

 about the other parts of my collection, which are each of them 

 proportionably extensive. 



" The most numerous Natural Order of plants in Brazil, 

 (that is, from the tropic of Capricorn to the Equinoctial Line, 

 the northern limit of my travels,) is the Compositai. Then 

 follow the GraminecB^ Rubiacece, Malvacece, Melastomacece, 

 MyrtacecB, LeguminoscB, Orchidem, TerebinthacecB, Euphor- 

 biacecB, Cyperoidece, Aroidecs, Malpighiacece, Acanthacece, Big- 

 noniacece, ConvolvulacecB^ Apocinecs, Scrophularinece, Solarmcece, 

 Scitaminece, Guttiferce, Bromeliacece, UrticecB, Salicarice, Anno- 

 nacecB, TiliacecB^ &c. These, though mentioned rather at 

 random, will give you an idea of the Botany of my Brazilian 

 Journey. It is remarkable, that I scarcely found a single re- 

 presentative of the Order Cruciferce. 



" According to an account, kept in my Geographical Cata- 

 logue, during my Brazilian Travels, I find I have 7022 

 species, including a few I collected in Portugal, Madeira, and 

 TenerifFe." 



A general sketch or picture of the vegetable forms is given 

 in another letter, written at Fulham in December, 1830. 

 " You have from all quarters heard the most animated des- 

 criptions of the luxuriance and richness of the vegetation of 

 Brazil; and with them I warmly agree. But this is become 

 almost a fashion, and in Europe it seems the general opinion 

 that the whole of that country is clothed with the most 

 magnificent forests, and of gigantic growth. This idea, though 

 correct with respect to all the maritime districts, the courses of 

 the rivers, and the greater part of the country lying under the 

 Equinoctial Line, is, however, not at all applicable to vast 

 tracts in the provinces of San Paulo and Goyaz. There I 

 have traversed boundless plains or open regions, some of 

 them covered with fine pasture, formed by a vast variety of the 

 most interesting Gramme<^ ; others with grasses, intermingled 

 with small plants and shrubs of the fine-leaved Melastoma- 

 cece, the Malpighiacece, the herbaceous Rubiacece, and Com- 

 positcB ; others with a varied clothing of annual and perennial 

 flowers, (almost disappearing during the dry season,) faintly 



K 2 



