476 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



escent size; Coyotillo (KarwinsMa), Ainargoso (Castela Nicholsoni), Ziz- 

 yphus, Acacia Berlandieri and amentacea, only shrubby. 



In the woods below Einggold the Agave variegata was found. Much 

 cultivated about yards are the Mexican Maguey (Agave Americana) 

 and several forms of Agave rigida. 



The valley of the Eio Grande, from 3 to 4 miles wide at Eio Grande 

 City, becomes a broad alluvial plain below Edinburg. It is thinly but 

 almost continuously settled from Eoma to Brownsville. It produces, 

 with little or no rain, excellent crops of Sugar Cane, Cotton, Corn, and 

 all kinds of vegetables except Potato. 



The timber of the alluvial bottom is now quite thick in places, com- 

 pletely and most pleasantly shading roads for miles. At Eio Grande 

 City, and downward to Brownsville, it consists of: Black Willow (Salix 

 nigra), often 2 and 3 feet in diameter and from 50 to 70 feet high, bear- 

 ing some resemblance to the Cottonwood of the middle and upper river ; 

 Long-leaved Willow (Salix longifolia), much smaller than the preced- 

 ing ; Water Elm ( TJlmus crassifolia), of good size ; Green Ash (Fraxinus 

 viridis, var. Berlandieriana), 2 and 3 feet in diameter and 50 fp* t high ; 

 Huisache and Eetama, middle-sized trees ; Anaqua (Ehretia elliptica), 

 1 to 2 feet in diameter, with deep green, scabrous foliage and edible ber- 

 ries ; Coma (Bumelia lycioides), becoming a tree 1 foot in diameter and 

 30 feet high ; Una de Gato (Acacia Greggii), 8 to 10 inches in diameter 

 and 30 feet high; Brasil or Blue- wood (Condalia obovata), shrub or 

 small tree ; Huajillo (Pithecolobium brevifolium), spiny shrub whose 

 foliage is eaten by goat and sheep; Granjeno (Celtis pallida), arbor- 

 escent shrub whose twisted branches are much sought after for canes ; 

 Sesbania Cavanillesii, very graceful shrub or small tree with bunches of 

 yellow flowers in August and wiuged legume ; Pecan, a large tree, only 

 at a few places, and probably introduced. 



Common and pretty vines are Ipomoza sinuata and trifida, Cocculus 

 diver sifoliuS) Vitis incisa, Anredera scandens, and Vigna luteola. 



At Havana Eanch (below Einggold), late iu August, I noted the fol- 

 lowing plants in bloom : 



Ta linum sarm entosum . 

 Iva ciliata. 



Acleisanthes Berlandieri, reclining over low bushes. 

 Lippia geminata, erect, 3 to 4 feet high. 

 Salvia coccinea. 

 Mimosa strigillosa. 

 Teucrium Gubense. 

 Solanum tectum. $ 

 Sesbania CavanillesiL 

 Vigna luteola. 

 Martynia fragrans. 

 Below Ediuburg one is surprised at the unexpected appearance, in 

 small, sparse clumps, of a Palmetto (Sabal Palmetto %) with the habit 



