1893. FLOWERS IN EHE GUIANA FOREST. 415 
species of Mucuna, which hang their flowers on long strings, one of 
our commonest timber trees; the wallaba, with similar blossoms; 
the Marcgvavia, with its curious pitchers; and several bushes and 
trees with their flowers sessile on stems and branches, all go to add 
to the interest of forest scenery. 
As if this were not enough, many of the shrubs and lower- 
growing plants have coloured bracts. Almost but not quite hidden 
by their handsome foliage, the heliconias glow with a fire-like 
brilliancy, and some of the marantas, although not so conspicuous, 
still show up well among their great leaves. <A species of Cephaélis 
has large scarlet bracts, and other plants of the same family come to 
the front in a similar way. Tillandsias, which are epiphytal, and 
have inconspicuous flowers, often shine up on the edge of the forest 
owing to their scarlet bracts. 
Colour is by no means wanting in the leaves. The great family 
of Melastomacez, so characteristic of the American tropics, stands 
out most prominently as an example of beauty in form, venation, and 
colour. Many of the species have a crimson glow over their whole 
surface which marks them out from their dark-green neighbours. 
Their flowers, although not generally showy, are always elegant, and 
their dark purple fruit very pretty indeed. The young seedlings of 
forest trees have always two or three of their upper leaves glowing 
with those delicate shades which are so conspicuous at the change of 
seasons, and low-growing marantas are often striped with rosy or 
white lines. Large patches of ferns and selaginellas also cover the 
ground on the edge of the forest, and with their lighter tints contrast 
with the dark greens and browns. 
Only in the dense forest, where perpetual twilight reigns, are the 
tree-trunks quite bare. Along the river banks, borders of the savannahs, 
and sand-reefs, every stem is more or less clothed with creepers. 
Some, as Vanilla and Marcgravia, climb like ivy, their leaves lying 
almost flat, others festoon the tree with garlands, while the 
immense heart- and arrow-shaped leaves of the giant aroids congregate 
at the top, almost covering their host. Other great plants of the 
last-mentioned family sit on the upper branches and throw down long 
aérial roots, the size of thick twine, which branch into masses of 
fibres as they reach the water. Mosses are not so plentiful as in 
temperate climates : they are replaced by patches of ferns, some of 
which are particularly delicate. Species of Tvichomanes often extend 
up the trunks for several feet, where they are replaced by Polypodium 
piloselloides, and higher yet by Peperomia nummularifolia. These form 
cushions on which small epiphytal orchids, ferns, tillandsias, and 
gesnerias find congenial habitats, all combining to decorate the 
otherwise bare stems and branches. 
To return to the flowers. Away from the rivers and open spaces, 
they are almost invisible, and even when seen many of them are 
inconspicuous; but, although hidden from sight, they make their 
