282 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 



diminish rapidly in number and variety as we ascend the hills, 

 and beyond the warm region of the Andes the scandent species 

 entirely disappear ; but a Bunchosia (probably B. Armeniacd) 

 a tree about the size of our pear trees ascends high into the 

 temperate region. On the hills which slope down to the left 

 margin of the Pastasa this tree grows up to 8000 feet, and in 

 some places forms large continuous patches, unmixed with any 

 other tree. The edible, though rather insipid drupes, as large 

 as a peach, are exposed for sale in large quantities in Ambato 

 and the adjacent towns, under the name of " ciruelo de fraile '' 

 or friar's plum. . . . 



Tertistromiaceff, i. - . . . Two species of the anomalous genus 

 Saurauja form trees of about 30 feet, and are conspicuous from 

 their abundance, from their large lanceolate serrated leaves, and 

 axillary panicles of white flowers resembling those of Fragaria 

 vesca. One of the two, with ferrugino-tomentose leaves, seems 

 quite the same as I have gathered on Tunguragua up to 7000 

 feet (PL Exs. 5089). A Freziera descends on the banks of the 

 Rio San Antonio to 2300 feet. . . . 



Chisiacea, 3. One of them, a Clusia, abundant and orna- 

 mental from its numerous rose-coloured flowers, but the plants 

 nearly all males. . . . Two or three other Clusiae were seen, not 

 in flower or fruit. 



Marcgraviacea, i. A Norantea, the same as that gathered in 

 the Bark woods of Puma-cocha. Mangravia umbellata is very 

 abundant, and climbs to the tops of the loftiest trees. 



Anonacece, 2. The one a Guatteria, rather scarce at about 

 3000 feet, the greatest elevation at which I have ever observed 

 the genus ; the other a small Anona, also scarce ; it bears an 

 edible fruit, called "cabeza de negro," the size of an orange but 

 longer than broad. This order has its chief site in the hot plains. 



Ericec?., Subordo Vacciniacete, 6. Four Vaccinia, one Thibaudia, 

 and one Macleania, all epiphytal shrubs. One of the Vaccinia, 

 with fleshy rose- or blood-coloured leaves, densely (almost teretely) 

 imbricated on the branches, and with slender red flowers in their 

 axils, looked very pretty on the old trees ; but the Thibaudia was 

 still more ornamental, from the profusion of its large tubular 

 flowers calyx and corolla at first yellow, turning red after the 

 bursting of the anthers, and persisting a long time ; they unfor- 

 tunately turn black in drying, so that my specimens give no idea 

 of their beauty. In Thibaudia we have a remarkable example 

 of a genus which ascends from the very plain (where, however, 

 it is very scarce) nearly to the extreme limit of lignescent 

 vegetation. Ericeae, on the contrary, according to my observa- 

 tions, do not descend lower than 6000 feet, on the equator. 



Amvridece. Two small trees, of the genus Icica, were seen 

 in flower ; and some of the tallest trees with pinnate leaves, 



