IN THE CINCHONA FORESTS 279 



green leaves, beautifully reticulated with the purple veins, far 

 excels every other plant seen in the Cinchona woods. I found 

 hut a single tuft, almost buried in moss on the trunk of a tree. 

 An Orchid (genus unknown), with thick coriaceous leaves, curi- 

 ously spotted with white a rare feature in epiphytal Orchids- 

 was discovered by Mr. Cross. Very remarkable was an Oncidium, 

 with numerous peduncles, 10 feet long, twining round one 

 another and on adjacent plants. Besides the Orchids growing 

 on trees, a good many species, allied to Spiranthes, grow on the 

 earth and on decayed logs. 



The 28 Orchids gathered in flower are, perhaps, scarcely a 

 third of the whole number observed. On the slopes of the 

 Andes some Orchid or other is in flower all through the year, and 

 almost every species has its distinct epoch for flowering. 



Commelynacece. Three species of Commelyna seen, chiefly 

 near streams and in cultivated places. 



Pontederiacece, i. A small creeping plant, with white or very 

 pale lilac flowers, probably a Pontederia, in moist springy situations 

 by the Chasuan. 



Dioscoreacea. Only the male plant seen of a Dioscorea. 



Smilacec?, 2. Species of Smilax, both with roundish stems 

 and a few prickles. 



Gnetacece, i. A Gnetum (G. tri nerve, MSS.), apparently 

 parasitic, and remarkable for its three-ribbed leaves. It is the 

 first species of this genus I have seen in the hills, though Gneta 

 are common enough in the plains, and especially on the Rio 

 Negro, where the kernel of the fruit is eaten roasted. 



Myricacece, i. A wax -bearing Myrica, which descends to 

 2000 feet on open beaches of the Rio San Antonia, but was not 

 observed by the Chasuan. The same or a very similar species 

 grows on wide gravelly beaches of the Pastasa, Morona, and other 

 rivers which descend the eastern slope of the Andes, and a good 

 deal of wax is obtained from its fruit, principally by the Jibaro 

 Indians, who sell it to traders from Quito, Ambato, etc., under 

 the name of "Cera de laurel " or laurel wax. 



Urticacetf, 2. Two or three fruticose 1'ilea- were observed, 

 but the only plant gathered was a tree 25 feet high (growing by 

 the Rio San Antonio), which seems a species of Sponin, a genus 

 placed by some authors in Ulmace;i-. 



Moracece. Here and there grows a parasitical Kiciis, but the 

 species seemed much fewer than I have observed in other similar 

 localities. 



Artocarpece. None gathered, although, as above remark' il. 

 the tallest tree of the forest belongs to this order. Two CVcropia- 

 are not infrequent, and another tree, with a tall white trunk and 

 large hoary pedatifid leaves, looking quite like a species of the 



