TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 239 



makes the trees shoot up to a majestic height ; and 

 not contented with these gigantic primeval monu- 

 ments, nature calls forth upon every stem a new 

 creation of numerous verdant flowering parasite 

 plants. Instead of the uniform poverty of species 

 in the forests of Europe, especially in the north, 

 there is here an infinite diversity in the forms of 

 stems, leaves, and blossoms- Almost every one 

 of these sovereigns of the forest, which here stand 

 near to each other, is distinguished in the total 

 effect of the picture from its neighbour. While 

 the silk-cotton tree *, partly armed with strong 

 thorns, begins at a considerable height fi-om the 

 ground to spread out its thick arms, and its digit- 

 ated leaves are grouped in light and airy masses, the 

 luxuriant lecythis and the Brazilian andaf shoot 

 out at a less height many branches profusely cover- 

 ed with leaves, which unite to form a verdant arcade. 

 The jacaranda attracts the eye by the lightness of 

 of its double-feathered leaves ; the large gold- 

 coloured flowers of this tree and the ipet dazzle 

 by their splendour, contrasted with the dark green 

 of the foliage. The spondias § arches its pennated 

 leaves into light oblong forms. A very peculiar 

 and most striking effect in the picture is that pro- 



* Bombax pentandrum, Ceiba, L. 



-f- Lecythis Ollaria, parviflora, L. ; Idatimon, Aubl. ; Anda 

 brasiliensis, Raddi. 



ij: Jacaranda brasiliensis, Juss.; Bignonia chrjsantha, Jacq. 

 § Spondias Myrobalanus, L. 



