RusBv: RECENT BOTANICAL COLLECTING IN COLOMBIA 45 
color. Prominent and beautiful are one or more species of Securi- 
daca, Polygalaceous woody vines which drape many trees with an 
unbroken canopy of pink or rose purple. Orchids and bromeliads 
are increasingly abundant as we approach the summit and many 
of them are very beautiful. No sooner do we begin to approach 
the summit than we encounter blackberry thickets, and these 
become more than conspicuous to the very summit. Of these 
there are many species and very possibly many hybrids, so that it 
is difficult for one to keep track of his collections. The canes are 
very tall and heavy, and in many cases assume a half-climbing 
condition among the trees. Their panicles of fruit are sometimes 
a foot in length and almost as broad at the base, and very dense, 
so that they droop heavily over the shrubbery. The individual 
fruits are sometimes more than an inch in length and breadth and 
their drupelets of surprising size. These larger varieties are 
scarcely edible, being sour and somewhat bitter, and reputed as 
poisonous. Others are of delicious flavor and are largely marketed. 
There is a strawberry with very small, extremely deeply pitted 
and rather poorly flavored fruit, which is also considerably mar- 
keted. The false strawberry forms large patches, which are bril- 
liantly and temptingly fruited. Many of the timber woods are of 
great utility and value, especially a species of black walnut which 
is largely employed in cabinet work. Among the more beautiful 
flowers of the summit are Gesneriaceae, in great variety and of 
lovely shades, many terrestrial and arborescent orchids, several 
species of Fuchsias of exquisite beauty, Begonias and Oxalis of 
numerous species and several Fagelias. The handsomest flower 
here, and one of the handsomest that I have ever encountered, is 
a species of Bomarea. It climbs to a height of several yards, its 
flowering tops and branches then drooping deeply over the banks 
‚ОЁ verdure that line the trail. The flower clusters are often large 
enough to fill a peck measure and are of a rich maroon color, 
sometimes almost as deep as chocolate, at others of a rich crimson. 
The bell-shaped flowers are richly mottled in the throat and the 
effect is too handsome for description. This species has large 
tuberous roots which can be used as food. Dahlias are quite 
abundant and we are astonished to find one species forming clumps 
fifteen feet or more in height and more like small trees than herbs. 
