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SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. yS 



A visit was made to Lake Arenal, across the cordillera on the 

 Atlantic watershed. This lake, several miles long, is curious because 

 of the fact that although the water is deep, its surface, at least during 

 the drier winter months, is completely covered with vegetation. 

 Viewed from one of the overhanging slopes one would never guess 

 the presence of a body of water ; it appears like a great savanna. At 

 the end of the dry season the long grass covering the water becomes 

 so dry that it may be set afire, thus afi^ording the anomalous spectacle 

 (if a burning lake. 





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Fig. 124. — -Paramo of tlie Ccrro de las Vucltas, Costa Rica, at an elevation 

 of 10,000 feet. The low clnmps of vegetation are composed chiefly of a dwarf 

 bamboo. 



Field-work in Guanacaste revealed a large number of unusual 

 plants, most of them, however, of technical rather than general 

 interest. Much lumber is cut in this province, especially Spanish 

 cedar (CcdrcJa) and guanacaste (Entcrolobiitui cyclocarpuin) . 



After leaving Guanacaste Mr. Standley had headquarters at San 

 Jose for several weeks, making excursions from the capital and 

 from Cartago to the surrounding high mountains, the richest region 

 for plants in all Central America. In company with Prof. Ruben 

 Torres an excursion was made to El Mufieco, south of Cartago, where 

 there was discovered a new genus of trees closely related to the 

 walnuts. Visits were made also to the lowlands of the Atlantic coast, 

 which likewise have a varied and interesting flora. 



