RusBY: RECENT BOTANICAL COLLECTING IN COLOMBIA 43 
them. Usually there is a conspicuous and graceful enlargement 
of the trunk at one or more points. The branches are almost 
horizontal and often of great length, while the crown is flattened, 
thus giving them a peculiar parasol-like appearance. 
There are many Bignoniaceous vines, but they are scattered, 
this being one of the most conspicuous differences between this 
and the shore flora of the lower Orinoco, where there is often a con- 
tinuous curtain, miles in length, of brilliantly blooming vines of 
this family. 
As we ascend the river, the mountain ranges on both sides 
steadily approach the shore. Every now and then the river will 
take a wide sweep and impinge against the foothills of the moun- 
tains, now upon one side and now upon the other. At such places 
we can distinguish no characteristic difference between the com- 
position of the flora upon the two sides. This flora is very rich 
and varied, so that one can scarcely attempt a description of it. 
Ingas, Pithecolobiums and other related plants are freely repre- 
sented. There are also many Cassias. Toward the upper part of 
the river, Acacias become the most conspicuous trees. When we 
go ashore, we find Zanthoxylums quite abundant among the shrub- 
bery, together with Muntingias and other shrubs and small trees 
belonging to the Malvaceae and Tiliaceae. Clitorias are very 
numerous and very handsome. Rubiaceous shrubs, herbs, and 
small trees are exceedingly abundant, as are herbaceous Euphor- 
bias and shrubby Crotons. Shrubby and arborescent Solanums 
are in bewildering variety. Large cactuses are seen occasionally 
in the lower river valley and become more and more abundant 
toward the highlands. They are, however, never in great variety 
and never so abundant as to be a very conspicuous feature of the 
landscape. Crotons and Solanums also increase in variety and 
abundance as we go southward, up the river. 
In the vicinity of Girardot, the land has been mostly cleared 
of its forests, and we have an excellent opportunity to study and 
collect the flora of these open hills and fields, exposed to the baking 
of an extremely hot sun and generally known аз“ pajinales." Mal- 
vaceous and Tiliaceous shrubs, twining herbaceous Leguminosae, 
Zanthoxylums, Borrerias and related Rubiaceae, and especially 
_ Crotons and Solanums cover these grounds. There are very many 
