BLUEFIELDS MOUNTAIN. 63 



often larger, kidney-shaped, and covered with flexible 

 prickles. 



Several of the primitive forest trees have been 

 left on each side of the road for the comfort of their 

 shadow. The common Cedar {Cedrela odorata), 

 the Bastard Cedar [Guazuma ulmifolia), and the 

 Fiddlewood ( (7^77^araa;?/ /on), are numerous ; a species 

 of Coccoloha, called the mountain grape, and the 

 Clammy cherry {Cordia coUococca), covered with 

 great bunches of scarlet berries, also occur, and two 

 or three large Mahogany-trees. Near the summit 

 the Mountain Mahoe [Hibiscus tiliaceus), a tall and 

 spreading tree, displays its large gorgeous blossoms 

 in the season, a mass of scarlet and yellow ; and a 

 considerable tract on either hand is covered with the 

 elegant Bamboo, whose dead and dried leaves com- 

 pletely hide the ground, and preclude the intrusion 

 of any other plant, where this gigantic reed has once 

 obtained possession. Many kinds of flowering shrubs 

 fringe the sides of the road ; among which the most 

 characteristic is a species of Heliotrope, possessing 

 neither beauty nor fragrance. At the elevation of 

 about (to speak roughly) 1500 feet, I found growing 

 on the bare rock a terrestrial Orchid of much ele- 

 gance, a species of Bletia {B. verecunda ?) of a crim- 

 son hue, striped with yellow. It was not, however, 

 at present in flower ; but the tall grass-like leaves 

 were beginning to wither, and young flower-shoots 

 were already springing from the sides of the globose 

 bulbs. Though very local, being confined to the 

 space of a few yards, it had much increased in that 

 spot ; for I obtained upwards of three hundred bulbs, 



