IN PERNAMBUCO. 291 



one of the Germans in the woods, I determined to accompany 

 them, in the hope of making some additions to my botanical 

 stores. In these woods, as in those near the town, there was a 

 great lack of herbaceous vegetation, and in a walk of about two 

 hours I only collected a few Ferns. In a hollow dense part of 

 the forest I observed a ver}'- large tree, a species of Lecythis, 

 the ground beneath which was covered with its large pot-like 

 capsules and their lids, the nuts of the greater part having 

 been taken out by the monkeys, who are very fond of them. 

 After passing through this forest we came upon another cleared 

 valley containing the ruins of several cottages. This had been 

 the first site of the settlement, and had been abandoned a few 

 years before. Near these dismantled dwellings we found plenty 

 of pine-apples, and refreshed ourselves with some which were 

 ripe. Moist open situations in this neighbourhood afforded me 

 fine specimens of a species of Coutoubea, while in dry, sandy, and 

 bushy places I met with a few plants of a large Cyrtopodium, 

 and on the stump of an old tree a Stanhopea. In the wood I 

 observed a fine tree covered with long spikes of bright yellow 

 flowers, which, after having procured specimens, I found to be a 

 species of Vochysia, a monandrous genus peculiar to South 

 America. By the side of a small stream near the same place, 

 the beautiful Moronobea coccinea, a small tree, bearing globose 

 crimson blossoms, grew in the greatest abundance. On the 

 following day I made an excursion into a different part of the 

 forest, and added a few more specimens to my collections. I 

 also picked up a few Orchideous plants, but these wqre very 

 rare. On our return to Pei'nambuco I saw Amaryllis Bella- 

 donna abundantly in flower by the road-side, and we passed 

 through large tracts covered almost entirely by the Eschweilera 

 already mentioned. Near Pernambuco I likewise saw for the 

 first time, and obtained fine specimens of, Cochlospermum serra- 

 tifolium, D. C, a beautiful shrub reaching from 10 to 15 feet 

 in height, with straight upright branches, which at the first 

 period of flowering are almost destitute of leaves, the few that 

 do appear being confined to the fiowerless boughs. The flowers, 

 which are large and of a shining golden colour, are produced in 

 large panicles. 



Other excursions in the vicinity of Pernambuco afforded me 

 numerous novelties. Among these I may mention a Melo- 

 cactus {M. depressus, Hook.) from dry, sandy, bushy tracts 

 near the sea to the south of the town. The same spot also re- 

 Avarded me with the beautiful Epidendrum cin7iabarmum, Saltz., 

 Monachanthus Jimbriatus, Gardn., a Norantea bearing long 

 spikes of crimson bracts and flowers, a Gomphia ( G. Fielding- 

 iana, Gardn. MSS.) with large bright green leaves, and long 



u 2 



