128 THE KEPP. 



species of epiphyte Orchidece were numerous ; we had 

 obtained a noble mass of Epidendrum ciliare, from an 

 Avocada Pear near Highgate ; there were forty-two 

 of the fine lengthened bulbs in the cluster, but the 

 singular fringed blossom was not displayed. On the 

 trees in the Kepp, this species occurred again ; Epid. 

 fragrans was in blossom, most beautiful and sweet- 

 scented ; Brasavola nodosa was also in flower : — 

 other species displayed only the leaves and pseudo- 

 bulbs. 



A slight depression in the ground, gradually 

 deepening, led us into a most romantic little glen. 

 One side of it was formed by a very steep slope, 

 covered with trees, and difficult to be climbed ; the 

 other side was an enormous sheet of limestone, 

 greatly overhanging, from the moist surface of which, 

 slender lianes were hanging, and many interesting 

 ferns threw out their gracefully curling fronds. The 

 bottom of the dell was damp and tenacious, and sup- 

 ported a rank vegetation ; largely consisting of the dan- 

 gerous Dumb-cane {Caladium seguinimi), a tall kind of 

 Arum, so virulently acrid, that the juice of any part, 

 incautiously applied to the mouth, causes the tongue 

 to swell so as to take away the power of speech, and 

 produces burning torments of long duration. It is 

 said to have been one of the modes of torture em- 

 ployed by cruel masters in the dark days of slavery. 

 Amidst these fine-looking, but deleterious Arums, I 

 found a liliaceous plant with ovate-leaves, the bulbs 

 of which I took ; these subsequently blossomed in 

 my possession, and proved a fine species of Pancra- 

 tium, delightfully fragrant. The smooth overhanging 



