PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL REMARKS. 483 



banks of the river are generally covered here by an extremely dense vege- 

 tation and often make it very difficult to enter into the primitive wood as 

 the soil is very marshy. The wood is very rich in lianas, these, in fact, are 

 very common in Surinam and chiefly determine the outward appearance of 

 the vegetation. It is very difficult to give a description of the vegetation of 

 the river banks, since the number of species of which it consists is enor- 

 mous. Among the most conspicuous plants we may certainly mention Mont- 

 richardia arborescens, the Mokko-Mokko, growing in the water in low, 

 muddy and shallow places and everywhere occupying large spots. The 

 banks are often densely overgrown with Drepanocarpus lunatus and Sola- 

 num Juripeba. These, however, are only found on the concave banks of the 

 bends in the rivers, where the current is strongest and mud is not deposi- 

 ted ; on the convex banks Montrichardia is found. 



Pachira aquatica is conspicuous by its large flowers and Cacoucia 

 coccinea by its long bunches of red flowers. The trees along the banks 

 are hung with numerous climbers which often form such a dense curtain 

 that the interior of the wood is entirely hidden from view. Especially Con- 

 volvulaceae and Bignoniaceae are extensively found, of the former family 

 generally Ipomoea fastigiata, of the latter especially Paragonia pyramidata, 

 but also often Cydista aequinoctialis. On the banks are very frequently 

 found Cissus erosa, Cissus sicyoides, Aniseia martinicensis and Paullinia 

 pinnata. Among the lower trees and shrubs Inga ingoides occupies a first 

 place, frequently mixed with Mabea. 



Among the higher trees Ceiba pentandra is most conspicuous, the 

 sometimes leafless top of wich rises above all other trees. In the blooming 

 period especially Triplaris surinamensis and Vochysia tetraphylla draw our 

 attention, while everywhere the white little stems of species of Cecropia jut 

 out from the edge of the primitive wood and often their smail white crown 

 hangs over the water. Palms should be mentioned here in the first place, 

 at any rate for their number. While in low spots in the east of the colony 

 Mauritia flexuosa is most frequent, this plant occupies a quite secondary 

 place along the other rivers. On these latter Manicaria saccifera is certainly 

 the most common palm near the shore, but higher up the rivers it soon 

 disappears and is replaced by the very common and extremely elegant 

 Euterpe oleracea. But also species of Astrocaryum and of Bactris occupy 

 an important place. 



Among the epiphytes orchids are little conspicuous. As a rule they are 

 small and among the larger species only Jonopsis paniculata is somewhat 

 commoner on the lower rivers. Greater is the impression made by the 

 Bromeliaceae, especially by the species of Aechmea, but also Tillandsia 

 usneoides is very conspicuous, although it is not by any means so common 

 as in some other parts of America. 



Herbs on the banks can only be seen, of course, when the water is 

 low. On the sand-banks Heliotropium filiforme and species of Phyllanthus 



