268 THE MAUEITIA PALM. 



lakes, and brooks. Among the plants which people them is a species 

 of the Graminese, Stipa itchu ; and there are also several Alpine 

 varieties, Composite, Leguminosa?, and one of the Cyperaceae family, 

 the Cyperus articulatus. 



The Llanos of Caraccas, and of the Rio Apure and the Meta, over 

 which roam immense herds of cattle, are, in the strictest sense of the 

 term, says Humboldt,* "grassy plains." Their prevalent vegetation, 

 belonging to the two families of Cyperacese and Graminece, consists of 

 various species of Paspalum, P. leptostachyum and P. linticulare ; of 

 Kyllingia, ofPanicum, Anthephora, A**istida, Vilfa, and Anthistiria. 

 Only here and there are found, interspersed among the Graminese, a 

 few herbaceous dicotyledonous plants, consisting of two very low- 

 growing species of Mimosa (Sensitive Plant) Mimosa intermedia and 

 Mimosa dormiens which are great favourites with the wild horses 

 and cattle. The natives give to this group of plants, which close 

 their delicate feathery leaves on being touched, the expressive name 

 of Dormideras " sleepy plants." Not a tree is visible for miles ; 

 but where solitary individuals occur, they are, in moist places, the 

 Mauritia Palm ; in arid districts, a Protacea namely, the Rhopula 

 complicata ; also the highly useful Palma da Corija, or de Sombrero ; 

 and our Corypha inermis, an umbrella palm, whose leaves are used 

 to thatch the roofs of huts. 



The Mauritia palm, Palm Moriche, Mauritia flexuosa, Quiteve, or 

 Ita palm for by any or all of these names it is known belongs to 

 the family of Lepidocaryece. The trunk grows as high as 26 feet, 

 but it probably requires from 120 to 150 years to reach this height. 

 It extends high up on the declivity of the Duida Mountains, and 

 forms in moist places beautiful groups of a shining emerald verdure, 

 like that of our European alder groves. The trees preserve the 

 humidity of the ground by their shade, and hence the Indians say 

 that the Mauritia draws the water round its roots by a mysterious 

 attraction. From its tops the Indians frequently suspend their ham- 

 mocks to escape the attacks of the mosquitoes. 



* Humboldt, " Ansichten der Natur " Steppes and Deserts, note 17. 



