HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 71 



some of its cones, which like many other good things that had presented 

 themselves on this excursion — were very difficult to be got at, but by swing- 

 ing ourselves like monkies from one branch to another, we succeeded in 

 procuring all that was wanted ; the largest cone being about the size of a 

 61b Pine apple, and the height of the largest tree we saw, did not exceed 

 TO feet. 



On the top of the hills in this district is found Euterpe edulis, the Cab- 

 bage palm of Brazil, and we can from experience say that it is a good sub- 

 stitute for the cabbage itself; the young, unexpandecl, blanched leaves 

 which form the centre of the plant is the part taken for use. and the cut is 

 made so deep into the core of the tree, that it never afterwards recovers. 



A large native Fig tree, whose broad, spreading top when measured, was 

 found to be 140 feet in diameter, luxuriated in the midst of a small tillage 

 through which we passed, the lower branches were about 6 feet from the 

 ground and extended out their whole length horizontally; but unlike the 

 Banyan-tree of the East Indies, no roots were thrown downwards to the 

 earth ; to these lower branches clung four species of Tillandsia. 



Two tribes of herbaceous plants which give character to Brazilian vege- 

 tation, are Aracere and Scitamineos ; the first is represented by the genus 

 Pothos, mostly all of the species of which have creeping rootstocks, these 

 ascend trees; and ramble over moist rocks ; with Colocasia and Caladium, 

 both inhabiting wet places, Scitaminre is represented most largely by 

 species of the genera Alpinia, Hedychium, Globba, Canna and Heliconia : 

 the three first are usually found inhabiting rich alluvial spots by the banks 

 of streams ; the species of Canna are commonly found on the outskirts of 

 cultivated grounds, while Heliconia- — which to our idea is the most orna- 

 mental of the whole tribe, is an inhabitant of mountain forests. 



The tribe of Grasses as might be expected, is but sparsely represented 

 in a country so densely wooded, but a few of those present were of the 

 most majestic kinds ; in some localities situated in the bosom of the moun- 

 tains where the soil was deep and rich, patches of bamboos were seen, whose 

 smooth, round, shining canes rose to the height of 60 to 100 feet, and from 

 3 to 4 inches in diameter at base. 



With regard to ferns we shall not at present say much ; nevertheless, that 

 they were found to be numerous, though, perhaps less so than in the vicinity 

 of Rio, in comparison with the number of flowering plants, and shall only 

 note in succession the genera which we supposed to be most largely repre- 

 sented in species ; first — Polypodium, Asplenium, Pteris, Acrostichum, As- 

 pidiurn, Adiantum, Hymenophyllum, Lycopodium, Cleichenia, Lygodium 

 and Anemia ; with solitary specimens of such interesting genera as Marattia, 

 Danaea, Cyathea and Alsophila. In one locality we met with that rare and 

 beautiful fern Salpichlsena volubilis, I. Sm., (Blechnum volubile, Kaulf.,) 

 climbing on tree3 to the height of 40 feet. 



