46 SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
We are more than astonished to see Physalis peruviana, which 
with us is but a few inches in height, there reaching a height of 
seven feet and spreading equally in breadth, and capable of yield- 
ing a half bushel or more of fruit. Melastomaceae are quite 
varied and abundant, and rather beautiful, but cannot compare 
in this respect with the representatives of the family in the more 
southern countries. There are one or two species of Befaria, 
having the same habit of growth as our Azaleas and much re- 
sembling them when in full bloom, which are exceptionally 
beautiful features of the landscape, their color shading variously 
through pink, purple, lavender, and violet. Ferns are in great 
variety but not so handsome as in other parts of the Andes which 
I have visited. To this statement, we must except the tree ferns, 
which are abundant and lovely. 
It remains to be stated that Vacciniaceous plants are abundant 
and diversified and many of them decidedly showy. For the 
most part, they bear scarlet or cherry-red tubular flowers in large 
and dense clusters, at the ends of long pendent branches. A num- 
ber of them produce delicious edible fruit, one closely filling the 
place of our cranberry, but sweet and of better flavor. Епса- 
ceae are also quite numerous, especially in swampy regions at the 
summit, but not nearly so conspicuous or beautiful as those of the 
family last considered. 
There is one important feature of the climate here which it 
seemed to me might well be taken into consideration by those who 
endeavor to grow in temperate houses the plants of such so-called 
temperate regions as those under consideration. А "temperate" 
climate at these high altitudes is fundamentally different from a 
temperate climate at a lower altitude and farther north, even 
though the average temperature may be the same in both cases. 
In such elevated regions, among tropical mountains, the tempera- 
ture regularly falls at night, even in the midst of the summer 
season, to a much lower point than is experienced in temperate 
latitudes. On the other hand, during the sunny portions of the 
day, we find it extremely hot, so that the variation between mid- 
day and mijlnight is extreme. It is not conceivable that plants 
which have been developed and which have lived under such con- 
ditions should not have acquired a constitution which requires 
