Antillean Region: Cuban District. 675 
there are many other herbaceous plants, especially species of Leguminosae. 
These plants make a dense sward. Scattered everywhere over the savannas 
are arborescent palms, mostly of the palmetto type. 
The following are some of the plants which according to CoMBs are inhabitants of the 
savannas with underlying red soil: Davilla rugosa, Polygala angustifolia, Wissadula periploci- 
folia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Luhea speciosa, Crotalaria pumila, Brya ebenus, Belairia mucronata, 
Poeppigia procera, Cassia chrysocarpa, Mimosa pudica, Lysiloma latisiliqua, Calycorectes protractus, 
Cuphea Parsonsia, Casearia spinescens, Piriqueta cistoides, Turnera pumilea, Passiflora ciliata, 
Rondeletia trifolia, Genipa caruto, Vernonia menthaefolia, Chrysanthellum procumbens, Pectis 
ciliaris, Jacquinia linearis (along brooklets), Rauwolfia Alphonsiana, R. cubana, Echites rosea, 
Ipomoea tenuissima, Solanum callicarpaefolium, Scopäria duleis, Buchnera elongata, Vitex ilici- 
folia, Hyptis gonocephala, and Copernicia hospita. 
The fertile savannas on the south shore of Cuba, presumably those with the black soil, 
are noted for the presence of the following plants, according to Combs: Clematis dioica, Urena 
sinuata, Eriodendron anfractuosum, Melochia nodiflora, Triumfetta semitriloba, Corchorus siliquo- 
sus, Malpighia urens, Gouania tomentosa, Serjania diversifolia, Spondias purpurea, Crotalaria retusa, 
Indigofera tinetoria, Centrosema Plumieri, C. virginianum, Clitoria glycinoides, Acacia sarmentosa, 
Psidium guajava, Eugenia axillaris, Casearia hirta, Passiflora suberosa, Alibertia edulis, Mikania 
orinocensis, Lucuma mammosa, Tabernaemontana citrifolia, Echites rosea, Asclepias curassavica, 
Hydrolea spinosa, Ehretia tinifolia, Tournefortia bicolor, Ipomoea umbellata, Solanum verbasci- 
folium, S. jJamaicense, Angelonia angustifolia, Gerardia hispidula, Ruellia tuberosa, Curculigo scor- 
zoneraefolia, Oreodoxa regia, with such grasses as, Paspalum paniculatum, Andropogon bi- 
cornis, Panicum leucophaeum, Setaria setosa, Sporobolus Jacquemontü, and a fern Aneimia adianti- 
folia. Rhipsalis cassytha is found hanging from palmetto trees. 
Open Forest Formation. This usually adjoins and grades imperceptibly 
into the savanna formation. The lee, or south slopes and ridges of the Sierra 
Maestra along the south shore of Cuba west of Santiago are covered with 
a dense growth of trees, according to TAYLOR’). The lack of undergrowth 
is very marked and throughout the forest is an unbroken succession of ridges 
and slopes carpeted with little but dried leaves. The grasses Arthrostylidium 
capillifolium, Oplismenus hirtellus, Pharus latifolius and Renealmia occiden- 
falıs are the most common herbaceous species. Entering the woods in the 
half shade, - according to FERNOW°) the botanist finds the undergrowth to con- 
sist up to 2500 feet of a species of Calyptranthes, although the undergrowth 
is not dense owing to the lack of surface water. 
ra simaruba, Spon- 
(= P. filieifolium), 
coffee and lemon 
wbile coni- 
not known. On approaching EI Yunque, a mountain near Baracoa at the eas 
country becomes densely wooded and the scattered elumps of Oreo R 
e f ill 
2,000 feet are absent. About- three miles north of EI Yunque is a range of ge 
forming the watershed between the Duava and Toa rivers. The tops of khese Bill Ape P 
1) Torreya VII: sı. 
2) Bulletin American Geographical Society NXXIX: 257—268. x 
43 
