166 



SOUTH AMEEICA— THE ANDES EEGIONS. 



Besides several indigenous alimentary plants, such as the arracacha (racacha), 

 or celery of the Andes, the Colombian flora is distinguished especially by the 

 great variety of its medicinal species. The cinchona is essentially an Andean 

 growth, flourishing chiefly between 7,900 and 9,800 feet, in association with tlie 

 superb red cedar. The first systematic study of the quinquinas (Peruvian bark) 



Fig. 64. — Chief Vegetable Prodttcts of Colombia. 

 Scale 1 : 15,0C»0,000. 



Forests 



310 Miles. 



was made in New Grenada by the botanist Mutis, who published the result in 

 1793. Since that time explorers have discovered several other members of the 

 family, whose bark, however, is for the most part destitute of any febrifugal pro- 

 perties. On the other hand, Colombia possesses several other equally eflicacious 

 plants, such as the cedron (sinabra cedron), highly esteemed by the natives as a 

 tonic ; SafEray even asserts that it is far superior to quinine against nervous inter- 



