VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA IN SEAKCH OF NEW PLANTS. 209 



vegetation. Higher still, at 5000 feet, comes the Potloearpus, with 

 some Myrtaceous trees, Melastomaj and the stately, Wax-Palm, tlie 

 only Palm that is found at such an elevation. Hence, till shrubs cease 

 (at about 11,000 feet) the beautiful Befarias (the Rhododendrons of 

 South America) and other cricoid shrubs, with some suffruticose Syn- 

 genesia and a few conspicuous Melastomacese, compose the principal 

 vegetation. The last plant of any size seen near the snow, is a robust 

 Syngenesia, which is esteemed highly medicinal ; here and there grew 

 also patches of a showy Lupine, some kinds of Geranium, and in 

 swampy spots an Osmunda, several Carices, and a striking Pinguicula, 

 reminding me of our P. grandiflora, with foliage of the same glistening 

 and icy-cold nature. The plants that vegetated highest up were a con- 

 spicuous species of Alypium, and, along the margin of perpetual 

 snow, a Primula, which I should have mucii liked to gather in bloom. 

 Many other plants were seen upon the Sierra, but not in sufficient 

 abundance to form any feature in the landscape. I found in rocky 

 spots a striking Echeveria ; a neat, but not conspicuous Daphne ; one 

 species of Fuchsia, and two of Berberis, with a strong and ratiier rare 

 Passion-flower, a Tropseolum, several Ardisiae, an Ilex, and a Cra- 

 taegus, &c. 



" On my return hither two days ago, I received your and Mr. 

 Smith's letters, announcing tlie arrival of my first box of plants from 

 Santa. Martha ; sorry I am that some of the contents had perished. I 

 am now convinced that it is a faulty plan to pack Orchidea; (finally) 

 shortly after they are gathered ; which I did with all my Jamaica 

 plants, and with the box in question from Santa Martha. I have 

 observed that after carrying plants in open airy baskets for a week or 

 two, the oldest bulbs of the Orchidese commonly perish : thus it must 

 be advisable to ascertain their state before sending them away. When 

 I arrived at Rio de la Hacha, I found, in the four boxes just de- 

 spatched, that there was a full bushel of dead and broken rubbish : if 

 this had been allowed to remain in consequence of the packages 

 having been closed, it must have destroyed many more plants ; and 

 to a similar process of unexamined decay, I attribute my previous 

 failures. 



" 1 am anxious to hear how the roots of Achimenes have borne the 

 journey, in order that I may yet secure more if desirable ; for I know 

 of a station where three species grow, on the mountains above Santa 

 Martha, one of whicli I believe is not in cultivation. Every inquiry 

 has been made, since I came into Columbia, with a view to obtaining 

 intelligence of tlie Palo de Vacca (Cow-tree), but I can hear nothing 

 of it. The Phytelephas (Vegetable Ivory Palm) is procurable at 

 Santa Martha, tiie nuts being brought from the province of Mara- 

 quita ; but I am not so sure of their freshness : therefore, in the ab- 

 sence of further directions from yovi about my movements, I think of 

 a.scending the Magdalena, and myself collecting growing plants and 

 seeds of the Ivory Palm. If time allows, I shall make an excursion 

 to the mountains in that district, and return to vSanta Martha about 

 the middle or end of March. I have much to do there, and mean to 

 make the best possible use of my opportunities, and to bring with me 

 all the plants I can." 



Vol. XV. No. 8.—N.S. « 



