12 



Gynerium known as wild cane or dumb cane. Guinea-grass, 

 Panicum maximum, is the entire source of hay. Sedges were 

 few, for there is little standing water (except a littoral salt marsh), 

 only a little pond near a mountain summit at 3,500 feet, and a 

 little lake in the bottom of the old crater of the volcano, Mt. 

 Misery. A Scleria with saw-edged leaves is an obstacle on 

 mountain-trails. 



Aroids are very conspicuous, and in great quantity, but only 

 about 8 species; two of Anthurium, climbing trees, two of Philo- 

 dendron, one with perforated leaves ; one Dieffenbaclua ; and a 

 species known as elephant's ears, forming great masses, with 

 leaves sometimes five feet long. 



Only two palms were found, one, a Bactris, reaching thirty feet ; 

 two species of Commelina ; three or four species of Tillandsia ; a 

 Dioscorea with a remarkable purple leaf, now growing in the prop- 

 agating house ; about sixteen orchids ; and one gymnosperm, a 

 Podocarpus abundant high up, and known as " wild rosemary 

 tree." Among higher plants the pepper family, the Papiliona- 

 ceae and allies, Euphorbia and Mrtastoma families are numerous. 

 The Compositae are also numerously present, but chiefly as 

 weeds ; a handsome new purple-flowered Eiipatorium was found 

 on the top of Mt. Misery forming a shrub eight to ten feet high. 

 The alligator-pear, Persea gratissima, is quite abundant. There 

 are four species of Fiats, a wild cherry, a Viola, etc. An intro- 

 duced raspberry occurred in a mountain pasture at 2,000 feet. 

 Among the more peculiar plants were the Cecropia, with white 

 under surfaces of leaves, Marcgravia climbing appressed to trees 

 to the height of fifty feet, and Hillia, interesting from its large 

 lustrous white flowers. 



The results of Dr. Britton and Mr. Cowell's expedition bid fair 

 to prove of high economic importance aside from their scientific 

 value. The expedition owed much to the kind assistance of the 

 planters, who detailed their negroes and horses for the service of 

 the explorers. Without such aid it would have been difficult to 

 penetrate the forest-belt, through which trails had first to be cut. 



Further remarks were added by Dr. Underwood, regarding a 

 dodder in tops of trees in Porto Rico ; by Mr. Barnhart, on a 



