542 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
leaves equally palmate, but much larger. To the south of Guayaval, 
other Palms predominate, chiefly the pinnate-leaved Piritu and the 
Mauritia Palm, the Sago-tree of America, which supplies farina- 
ceous food, good wine, thread to weave into hammocks and clothes, 
and wands to make baskets; its fruit, in shape, resembling pine-cones, 
being covered with scales, like those of Calamus Rotang, with some- 
thing of an apple taste. The Guaraous, whose very existence, so to 
speak, depends on the Murichi Palm (Mauritia flexuosa), obtain an 
acid and very refreshing fermented liquor from it. This Palm has 
large, shiny, corrugated, and fan-like leaves; maintaining a most 
beautiful verdure in times of the greatest drought. The sight of 
it alone in the Llanos produces an agreeable and refreshing sensa- 
tion ; and the Murichi, laden with its scaly fruit, contrasts singu- 
larly with the sad aspect of the Palm of Cobija, the leaves of which 
are always grey, and covered with dust.” 
As we ascend from the low country of central America towards 
. the high ridges of the Cordilleras, whirlwinds of snow and hail 
succeed, each day, and for several hours, to the hot rays of the sun. 
If we ascend the Andes, between 20° south latitude and 5° north, 
at a height of from five thousand to nine thousand feet above the 
sea level, we shall find extra-tropical forms of vegetation become 
more abundant. The Graminacesw, some Amentacexe—such as the 
ks, Willows, the Labiates, Ericinee, numerous Composites, 
Caprifoliacee, Umbelliferee, Rosacew, Cruciferae, Ranunculaces. 
Tropical plants, on the contrary, disappear, or become very rare; 
but still, isolated species of Palms, Pepper plants, Cactuses, Passion 
flowers, and Melastoma, are found at considerable heights. Among 
the most abundant ligneous species is the Ceroxylon andicola, the 
highest of all the Palms, which reachs the height of one hundred 
and eighty feet and upwards, and produces a wax which exudes 
from its leaves, and from the base of their petioles. Humboldt’s 
Willow and Oak, several species of Cinchona and other Quinquinas, 
which here reign supreme; a few Hollies and Andromedas. Vege- 
tables cultivated between the tropics, in Mexico, and as far south as 
the river Amazon, disappear almost entirely here ; but Maize and 
Coffee, the cereals and European fruits, are cultivated in these 
regions ; Potatoes; Chenopodium chinoa, the seeds of which, when : 
boiled, serve as food for the inhabitants of the mountains. ae 
Beats 
