310 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
the small dry gullies, which during the rainy season drain the 
raised middle of the valley floor that lies between the main stream 
on the west and the branch stream that comes in from the east. 
This ironweed is the most prominent plant of the valley, not only 
because of its abundance but also from its size. It is this plant, 
for example, that forms the major component of the clumps shown 
in fig. 1. The three more prominent plants after Vernonia permollis 
are Bocconia frutescens (already grown to 2 or 3m. in height), 
Solanum torvum Sw. (often 2m. high), and Vernonia acuminata 
2.—Looking north over upper Cascade Valley, showing scars left on south 
side of Blue Mountains by landslides. 
(about 2 m). These larger plants are sometimes mingled with the 
Vernonia permollis, although much fewer than the latter, but may 
also be scattered sparingly by themselves over the valley floor. 
Of the less prominent seed plants of the valley; some fifteen 
species were found. These, with their relative abundance, are: 
Piper sp.? (two or three young plants), Pilea microphylla L. 
(Liebm.) (rather frequent), Iresine celosioides L. (sparse), Begonia 
acuminata (very few), Asclepias curassavica L. and A. nivea L. (both 
infrequent), Philibertella clausa (Jacq.) Vail. (a dozen plants seen), 
Duranta plumieri Jacq. (half a dozen plants), Verbena bonariensis 
L. (few), Solanum torvum Sw., Maurandia scandens A. Gr. (occa- 
