Chaf. XV. 



THE CHINCHONA REGION. 



251 



on the summit, with bunches of young capsules, in company 

 with the leathery-leafed huaturu, and the Aceite de Maria 

 {Elceagia Marice, Wedd.). The latter is a tree about thirty 

 feet high, with bark covered with wliite lichens. Among the 

 numerous ferns the most conspicuous was a very large Poly- 

 podium, called calaguala. Descending the rocks of Ccasa- 

 sani, we had to continue the work of cutting our way through 

 the forest, our passage being opposed by matted entangle- 

 ments of bamboo, and a Panicum with blades, the edges of 

 which cut like a penknife, called challi-chalU. On many of 

 the trees there were hornets'-nests, globes of mud fixed to 

 the leaves, and covered with the insects. I was inadvertently 

 going to touch one, which was attached to the back of a 

 large fern-frond, when Martinez, with great dexterity, hurled 

 the plants down the precipice, before the savage creatures 

 were aware of their danger. 



We were now in the midst of the chinchona region ; and 

 passed several trees of C. ovata {morada ordinaria) and C. 

 micrantha {verde paltaya). There were also great quantities 

 of a false cliinchona, called by Martinez Carhua-carhua hlanca. 

 We passed through several large groves of this species, which 

 appeared to be a Lasionema, but differed in several respects 

 from the L. chinchonoides, mentioned by Dr. Weddell as grow- 

 ing in the Caravayan forests. The tree is very common near 

 the banks of the river Tambopata, frequently with its bouglis, 

 large coarse leaves, and panicles of flowers, drooping over the 

 water.'' 



7 Carhua'carhua-hlanca {Lasionema ?) 

 Tree. — 30 or 40 fuet liigli, growing 

 iu moist parts of tlie valley of Tambo- 

 pata. 



Leaves. — Opposite, entire, petiolatc, 

 oblong, acute, smooth on both sides, 

 dark green above, lighter beneath, with 

 veins and midrib nearly white. 2^ feet 

 long by 9 or 10 inches broad. Coarse, 



bulging, and wrinkled between the 

 veins. 



Calyx. — Deep purple and green, lea- 

 theiy, 5-toothed, teeth rounded. 



Corolla. — Tube wliite, tinged with 

 light purple, leathery, 5 laciniie, smooth 

 and redexed. 



Stamens. — 5, attached to the middle 

 of the tube of tlie corolla, exeerted. 



