Ill 



ite collecting grounds of our Mr. Pringle, for which reason alone it 

 should always possess a deep interest for American botanists. As 

 I remember, Cuernavaca is distant from the City of Mexico in a 

 straight line only about fifteen miles, but, since the train has to 

 pass over a summit more than ten thousand feet in height, about 

 three thousand feet higher than Mexico, we travel some fifty 

 miles in reaching it. The mountain thus traversed consists of 

 the roughest kind of lava formation, full of deep gullies and 

 ravines which are bordered by rugged and often overhanging 

 walls, with sharp pockets, sometimes caves, and innumerable 

 abrupt and jagged projections. Were this surface to be viewed 

 with its vegetation wholly removed, it would appear as though 

 the growth of ordinary vegetation upon it was almost impos- 

 sible, yet it bears a flora of the richest character and greatest in- 

 terest, and one that is varied in every sense of the term. Much 

 of its surface is covered with a fine forest of good sized pines, 

 with some cypress and other coniferous evergreens. At places 

 this gives way to arborescent Arctosiaphylos, with many oaks. 

 Its shrubs grow densely and represent so many families and 

 genera that from a systemic point of view this growth is scarcely 

 characteristic. It is, however, the herbaceous growth which is 

 most varied and interesting. If everything but the ferns were 

 removed the appearance would still be that of an abundant 

 vegetation. Taking only five or six good specimens of each spe- 

 cies, I could have loaded my portfolio within an area of a hundred 

 yards square. This is the natural home of the dahlia and one is 

 bewildered by the variety which it displays. It is impossible 

 to say whether the different forms are mere variations, or hybrids, 

 or numerous closely related species. Acres are covered with 

 them and they are often from six to eight feet in height. They 

 are for the most part of very slender habit. Pentstemons, 

 lamourouxias and other scarlet-flowered figworts are very con- 

 spicuous. Verbenas are abundant and varied, as are castilleias, 

 and there are dazzling golden patches of composites lying flat 

 upon the ground. Beautiful asters and flea-banes abound. 

 The cool, damp, open places at the higher altitudes are densely 

 carpeted with a free blooming, large-flowered Stellaria. Upon 



