FLORISTIC REGIONS in 



flora, differing, as does the Polynesian from the Indian 

 flora, mainly by the greater profusion of Ferns and 

 Orchids. 



The northern shores of Colombia and Venezuela and 

 the forests of Guiana serve to link the Central American 

 Rain-forest with the vast area of the Amazon Region, for 

 which the name Hylaea has been suggested. This region 



FIG. 9. Epiphytic Orchid (Cattleya) in Brazil. 

 (From Graebner's " Lehrbuch der Pftanzengeographie.") 



exhibits the greatest variety of Palms in the world. The 

 Lecythidece , a sub-order of Myvtacea comprising the 

 lofty Brazil-nut (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. and Bonp.) 

 and the Monkey-pots, the Melastomacecs, Pipevacece, 

 and Gesneracecs, the Passion-flowers, and the Begonias, 

 are strikingly characteristic. The Marcgraviacet%> 

 peculiarly adapted to pollination by humming-birds, 

 and many laticiferous Euphorbiacecs, of which the Para 

 Rubber- trees (Hevea) are the most important, are 

 peculiar to this part of the region, where all the distinc- 

 tive features of the Rain-forest are typically shown. 



