476 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



escent size; Coyotillo {KarwinsMa), Amargoso [Castela Nieholsoni), Ziz- 

 yphus, Acacia Berlandieri and amentacea, only shrubby. 



In the woods below Ringgold the Agave variegata was found. Much 

 cultivated about yards are the Mexican Maguey (Agave Americana) 

 and several forms of Agave rigida. 



The valley of the Eio Grande, from 3 to 4 miles wide at Rio Grande 

 City, becomes a broad alluvial plain below Ediuburg. It is thinly but 

 almost continuously settled from Roma to Brownsville. It produces, 

 with little or no raih, excellent crops of Sugar Cane, Cotton, Corn, and 

 all kinds of vegetables except Potato. 



The timber of the alluvial bottom is now quite thick in places, com- 

 pletely and most pleasantly shading roads for miles. At Rio Grande 

 City, and downward to Brownsville, it consists of: Black Willow {Salix 

 nigra), often 2 and 3 feet in diameter and from 50 to 70 feet high, bear- 

 ing some resemblance to the Cottonwood of the middle and upper river ; 

 Long-leaved Willow [Salix longifoHa), much smaller than the preced- 

 ing ; Water Elm ( Ulmus crassifoKa), of good size ; Green Ash {Fraxinus 

 viridis, var. Berlandieriana), H and 3 feet in diameter and 50 feet high ; 

 Huisache and Retama, middle-sized trees; Anaqua {Ehretia elliptica), 

 1 to 2 feet in diameter, with deep green, scabrous foliage and edible ber- 

 ries; Coma [Bumelia lycioides), becoming a tree 1 foot in diameter and 

 30 feet high ; Uiia de Gato {Acacia Greggii), 8 to 10 inches in diameter 

 and 30 feet high; Brasil or Blue- wood [Condalia obovata), shrub or 

 small tree ; Huajillo [Fithecolobium hrevifoUum), spiny shrub whose 

 foliage is eaten by goat and sheep; Graujeno {Celtis pallida), arbor- 

 escent shrub whose twisted branches are much sought after for canes ; 

 Sesbania Cavanillesii, very graceful shrub or small tree with bunches of 

 yellow flowers in August and wiuged legume ; Pecan, a large tree, only 

 at a few places, and probably introduced. 



Common and pretty vines are Ipomcea sinuata and trijida, Goccidus 

 diversifolius, Vitis inclsa, Anredera scandens, and Vigna hiteola. 



At Havana Ranch (below Ringgold), late iu August, I noted the fol- 

 lowing plants in bloom : 



Talinum sarmentosmn. 



Iva ciliata. 



Acleisanthes Berlandieri, reclining over low bushes. 



Lippia geminata, erect, 3 to 4 feet high. 



Salvia cocciviea. 



Mimosa strigillosa. 



Teucrium Gubense. 



Solanum tectum. ? 



Sesbania Gavanillesii. 



Vigna luteola. 



Martynia fragrans. 

 Below Edinburg one is surprised at the unexpected appearance, in 

 small, sparse clumps, of a Palmetto {Sabal Palmetto ?) with the habit 



