624 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
to send such specimens as may serve for full descriptions, 
even if they are not capable of being figured; adding some 
sketches of the fructification, and of those nicer parts, which 
are apt to change their form when dried. Epiphytes I find 
no difficulty in preserving without splitting the stem: my 
only regret is that there is no possibility of arresting their 
most brilliant, but fugacious colours. Several of my numbers 
will show you that the minutest Cryptogamic plants have not 
been over-looked. Palms, I confess, are puzzling affairs, 
because of their great bulk, especially when gathered far 
from my home. Except a few Liliacee, which grow in brackish 
water, there appear not to be many aquatics in our low- 
lands ; Pontederia azurea, Cabomba aquatica, a small Umbelli- 
ferous plant and a few Nympheacee are the chief. Going to 
Anka, the water was too high for me to find any; but when 
returning, while I was sick, I noticed whole rocks covered 
with a very singular production, of which all I can say is, 
that the foliage resembles the finest moss, while the scapes 
are quite disproportioned to the leaves, being one foot and a 
half high, and bearing many pink flowers on a spike.* This 
plant you will receive among my other things. In the Tapa- 
noni and Lava, the Victoria regalis is certainly not to be 
found, but I feel little doubt of meeting with it in the Sara- 
macca. There will be no difficulty in drying it, either 
entire, or in fragments; but the removal of living specimens 
would not be so easy, I amafraid. You askif the species of 
Ficus be common; but I must confess that 1 do not know 
great trees well; however I shall be sure to procure them, if 
here, as trees are peculiarly interesting to me. 
I must not forget to tell you, that at Anka I found a tree, 
about eighty feet high to the summit, with a diameter of 
six feet. It was not in flower, but contained an extraordi- 
nary quantity of an ethereal highly volatile oil, bearing some 
resemblance to the cajeput oil. It is highly scented, but not 
disagreeable; of its qualities I can only say that a single 
drop, rubbed in under the eye, causes a sensation of great 
* Perhaps an Utricularia.—En. 
