PHYSIOGNOMY OP PLANTS. 243 



of South America, it is frequently associated that of the tropical 

 twining rope-plants, or Lianes, (^ which display in those regions, 

 in Paullinias, Banisterias, Bignonias, and Passifloras, the utmost 

 vigor of vegetation. It is represented to us in the temperate lati- 

 tudes by our twining hops, and by our grape vines. On the banks 

 of the Orinoco the leafless branches of the Bauhinias are often be- 

 tween 40 and 50 feet long : sometimes they hang down perpendicu- 

 larly from the high top of the Swietenia, and sometimes they are 

 stretched obliquely like the cordage of a ship : the tiger-cats climb 

 up and descend by them with wonderful agility. 



In strong contrast with the extreme flexibility and fresh light- 

 colored verdure of the climbing plants, of which we have just been 

 speaking, are the rigid, self-supporting growth and bluish hue of the 

 form of Aloes, ( 26 ) which, instead of pliant stems and branches of 

 enormous length, are either without stems altogether, or have branch- 

 less stems. The leaves, which are succulent, thick, and fleshy, and 

 terminate in long points, radiate from a centre and form a closely 

 crowded tuft. The tall-stemmed aloes are not found in close clus- 

 ters or thickets like other social or gregarious plants or trees ; they 

 stand singly in arid plains, and impart thereby to the tropical re- 

 gions in which they are found a peculiar, melancholy, and I would 

 almost venture to call it, African character. Taking for our guides 

 resemblance in physiognomy, and influence on the impression pro- 

 duced by the landscape, we place together under the head of the 

 Aloe form (from among the Bromeliaceae), the Pitcairnias, which 

 in the chain of the Andes grow out of clefts in the rocks ; the great 

 Pournetia pyramidata (the Atschupalla of the elevated plains of 

 New Granada); the American Aloe (Agave); Bromelia aranas and 

 B. karatas ; from among the Euphorbiacese the rare species which 

 have thick short candelabra-like divided stems ; from the family of 

 Asphodelese the African Aloe and the Dragon tree (Dracaena draco) ; 

 and lastly, from among the Liliaceae, the tall flowering Yucca. 



If the Aloe form is characterized by an almost mournful repose 

 and immobility, the form of Grramineae, ( 27 ) especially the physiog- 

 nomy of arborescent grasses, is characterized, on the contrary, by an 

 expression of cheerfulness and of airy grace and tremulous lightness, 

 combined with lofty stature. Both in the East and West Indies 



