226 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



Amongst the shrubs, some of the most singular are the 

 Vellozias (V. Candida), which are very common in Brazil; 

 they vary very much in height, and not unfpequently attain 

 the size of a small tree. They have a remarkably awkward 

 and naked appearance ; the trunks are closely covered with 

 the remains of withered leaves, and the branches are bare 

 and forked, with only a tuft of leaves quite at the extremity, 

 out of which grows a beautiful flower, in appearance very 

 much like our large white Lilies. 



At the height we have now reached of some 2000 feet 

 above the sea, we could almost fancy ourselves transported 

 to a colder zone ; the streams which flow from the highest 

 ridge are " some degrees colder than the water in the aque- 

 duct," and a chill air surrounds us as the clouds at the 

 sunset hour settle on the mountain-top, and remind us of 

 approaching night. But let us quicken our steps down 

 the mountain as we will, we must now consent to pay the 

 penalty for loitering so leisurely on our way up, by having 

 to spend half an hour in the dark within the now sombre 

 shade of the forest, till the moon once more shows us our 

 path. 



Perhaps we do not altogether regret this, for (though 

 not the kind of concert we should like to listen to every 



