THE PALMS OF AMERICA. 153 



north latitude. Below tlie snow-capped moun- 

 tains called Tolima, San Juan, and Quindiu, 

 especially tlie last, the Ccroxylon grows in all 

 its grandeur, elevating its majestic trunk, 

 coated with a thick incrustation of wax, to a 

 height of one hundred and eighty feet, among 

 the most rugged precipices of the wild region 

 which it inhabits. Unlike the greater part of 

 the palm tribe, this species avoids the heat of 

 tropical climes, and seems incapable of existing 

 except in regions whore the temperature is 

 lowered by elevation iu the air, and the con- 

 tiguity of perpetual snow. It is said to make 

 it first appearance on the sides of the Quindiu 

 at a height equal to that of the Puy de Dome, 

 or the passage of j\Iont Cenis ; this is higher 

 than the region of Cinchonas, and so cool that 

 Humboldt does not estimate the mean tempera- 

 ture of the year higher at the utmost than G5° 

 to C8° Fahrenheit, which is at least 170^ lower 

 than the mean temperature of palm countries. 

 It does not extend over more than fifteen or 

 twenty leagues of country altogether. Its roots 

 are fibrous and very numerous, the main root 

 being thicker than the stem itself. The trunk 

 is distinctly marked with rings, caused by the 

 fall of the leaves, which are from eighteen to 

 twenty f(.'et long. The spaces between these 



