4 04 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP. 



self-standing bushy trees, but still have the same 

 slender geniculate branches. 



The pretty Gentianeous shrubs of the genus 

 Tachia have long, slender, hollowed branches, that 

 either hang down or support themselves on the 

 branches of adjoining shrubs and trees ; [yet 

 although this character is (as I suppose) an un- 

 doubted inheritance of the effects of ant -agency, 

 it is singular that Tachias are nowadays often found 

 entirely free from ants ; while the name, taken by 

 Aublet from the Tupi language, distinctly implies 

 that in his day they were notoriously ant-infested.] 

 The genus Tachigalia, spoken of above, also doubt- 

 less owed its name to the same peculiarity, which 

 it still enjoys unabated. Aublet tells us he got 

 these and other Tupi names from a colony of 

 Indians from Para, who had crossed the Amazon 

 and established themselves in Cayenne. 



Some Habeas are still more remarkable, the 

 long sarmentose branches stretching away to a 

 great length among the adjacent vegetation, 

 although never actually twining. All Mabeas of 

 the section Taquari have this habit, and all are 

 infested by Tachi ants. The slender but tough 

 twigs, hollowed and polished interiorly by ants, are 

 a favourite material for tobacco-pipes with the 

 Indians of the Amazon, who strip off the bark and 

 paint and varnish the surface of the wood. These 

 " Taquaris," as they are called, are commonly sold 

 in the shops at Para. A bundle of them which 

 I purchased there is now in the Kew Museum. 

 The arborescent Mabeas, however, with tall erect 

 trunks and paniculate inflorescence, are apparently 

 never touched by ants. 



