228 VEGETATION 



with a low, dense growth of scrubs aucl trees. The most common species 

 were Fagara fagara (L.) Small (Wild lime), Bourreria havanensis (L.) 

 Miers (Strong back)^ Buinelia micropliylla G-riseb. (Ink-berry), Reynosia 

 septentrionalis Urban (Darling plum), Coccolohis laurifoUa J acq. (Pigeon 

 plum), Eugenia confusa DC. (Stopper), Bursera simaruha (L.) Sarg. (Gum- 

 elemi). Acacia choriophylla Benth. (Cinnecord), Baccharis dioica Vahl. 

 (Broom-bush), Torruhia longifolla. (Heimerl) Britton (Blolly), and Melo- 

 cJiia tomentosa L. Here we passed for the first time a few plants of the 

 beautiful, yellow-flowered Catesbcea spinosa L., which was afterwards found 

 in great abundance at Clarence Harbor, Long Island. The principal vines 

 among this scrubby growth were Smilax heyrichii Kunth, Jacquemontia 

 jamaicensis (Jacq.) Hall, Serjania cliversifolia Eadlk., and a species of 'Passi- 

 fiora. 



On the flat top of the ridge were found, in addition to most of the 

 plants just mentioned, occasional specimens of Iclithyomethia pisdpula (L.) 

 Hitch, with its peculiar winged and jointed pods; also Lantaua mvolucrata 

 L., Ficus sapotifolia Kunth & Benche, Tecoma baliamensis Korthrop, with 

 almost white flowers, Eritlialis fruticosa L., Xylosma ilicifolia Northrop, 

 and the spiny blue-flowered Anthacanthus acicularis ISTees., here first seen in 

 bloom. 



On the top of the long, gentle slope descending eastward from the summit 

 of this ridge were considerable areas of hard, smooth rock, broken irregularly 

 with deep depressions. Exposed to the full force of the sun and wind and 

 absolutely bare of soil, except in the crevices, these rocks seemed nevertheless 

 a paradise for vines, which covered them to the exclusion of all other growth. 

 Here flourished Serjania diversifolia Eadlk., Cissus sicyoides L., Fartheno- 

 cissiis quinquefolia (L.) Planch., Galactia rudolpliioides (Griseb.) Benth. & 

 Hook., Rhahdadenia hiflora (Jacq.) Mill., and Smilax heyrichii Kunth. In 

 the deep depressions among these vine-clad rocks grew Bursera simaruha (L.) 

 Sarg. (Gum-elemi), Bumelia micropliylla Griseb. (Ink-berry), and Ficus 

 sapotifolia Kunth & Benche, while in the smaller crevices were stunted speci- 

 mens of PhyUantlius epiphyllantlms L. (Hardhead) and Fagara fagara (L.) 

 Small (Wild lime). 



The long eastern slope of the high ridge is broken about half-way down 

 by a second smaller ridge, which rises to about 60 feet above the sea, and 

 slopes gently down to the precipitate cliffs that form the shore. The type of 

 growth that covers this eastern slope presents a different appearance from 



