334 Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 



Serra, which does not rise above 1500 feet higher than the level of 

 the town, is the commencement of a large table-land (tabuleira) , 

 stretching far to the south and west, and on which the cashew. Pike, 

 and Mangaha grow very abundantly, as well as a kind of Gomphia, 

 that rises to a height of 20 or 30 feet. Under the shade of these may 

 be found several herbaceous plants and humble shrubs. Of the latter, 

 the small Psidium {Mangaraba) already mentioned, is the most com- 

 mon. On the sloping ascent an extremely beautiful Vochysia and a 

 Qualea abound, as well as a new arborescent species of Alhertinia, 

 that grows 25 or 30 feet high. Of palms, only three species are 

 found here; the carnahuba {Corypha cerifera. Mart.), so common 

 below Ico, and which still straggles up to within two days' journey 

 of this place, not being among them. The largest of these three 

 palms is a very beautiful tree, probably an Attalea, but I have not 

 seen its inflorescence. It rivals the cocoa-nut tree in height of stem, 

 and far excels it in the size of its head of fronds. The fronds are 

 thrown up almost vertically, and their great length and deep green 

 colour give the tree a most magnificent appearance ; while the fruit 

 is about the size of an apple, 3 -celled, and borne in large racemes. 

 I send Mr. Murray a few of them, with directions to let you have 

 one. The second species is the Acrocomia sclerocarpa of Martins, 

 very striking from its fusiform prickly stem. The third of the 

 palms, much smaller than the two others, is only remarkable from 

 its being the sole kind of tree on which the solitary epiphyte that 

 this neighbourhood produces will grow. The first-mentioned spe- 

 cies is called Palmeira by the natives, the second Macahuba, and the 

 third CatoU. 



Cactece are Ytry scarce here : I have only met with four species, 

 all of them similar to those that I had already despatched to Eng- 

 land from the Rio San Francisco. Orchidece are still more rare. 

 Two kinds only can 1 find to send home alive, but of both you will 

 receive an abundant supply : they are the Oncidium already men- 

 tioned, and the Epiphyte that grows on the Catole. The latter I have 

 not seen in flower, it being in a dormant leafless state at this season ; 

 the general appearance is that of a Catasetum, and I have no doubt 

 it will prove to be new. Here the Epiphytal Orchidece of South 

 Brazil are represented by Loranthacece, which, in the shape of Viscum, 

 exist on almost every tree, and being evergreen give a remarkable 

 appearance to the deciduous forests. Of this tribe you will find a 

 rich variety in the present collection. Ferns are rare, but I have 

 added to my previous stores a few from the Serra de Araripe ; one 

 of them being that beautiful tree-fern Cyathea aculeata. In a few 



