36 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



resembled those of the Terebinth acete, abounded in the forest : but 

 amid the variety of genera, some probably belonged to other Tribes 

 of plants known to have very similar pinnate leaves. 



17. Pahnacece. Mountain-summits were often found occupied by a 

 growth of Bromelias and Bambuseas, intermingled with different spe- 

 cies of slender-stemmed dwarf Palms : while in other situations, Palms 

 usually occurred singly and at long intervals. Of sixteen species 

 observed, one exceeded the height of forty feet ; three or four attained 

 that of thirty; and the remaining species were comparatively hum- 

 ble, though with their spreading fronds occupying a good deal of space. 

 In all instances, the fronds were observed to be pinnately-divided ; the 

 only variations being, in the eroded Caryota-like segments in certain 

 genera, and in the fronds of young Palms remaining entire from the 

 non-separation of the segments. A climbing Palm was also met wath ; 

 the stem slender and vine-like, ascending by reflexed spines on the 

 tendril-like prolongation of the midrib of the fronds. 



18. SdpindacecB. Some of the forest-trees seemed to belong to this 

 family ; and among shrubs, a species of Sapindns was frequent. The 

 Pardlinieoi were abundant and conspicuous; woody vines, ornamental 

 not from their flowers, bat from their foliage, their peculiarly -divided 

 compound leaves. 



19. Aracem. The most abundant were the twining species, around 

 the basal portion of the trunks of forest-trees ; varying greatly in 

 leaf and flower according to the species, and notwithstanding their 

 simple array of green and white, presenting a fine subject for an illus- 

 trated monograph. Among the rest, the Ifonstera pertusa, recognized 

 by the natural perforations in the leaves, proved by no means rare. 

 The Cahulium Jiederaceum, so remarkable for its upright and even 

 woody stem, six feet or more in height, was growing in profusion on 

 cliffs facing the sea : and a Colocasia having leaves three feet by 

 two, or larger than in any other species I have met with, was fre- 

 quent on the Organ Mountains. A stemless genus, allied to Pothos, 

 and having an elongated dark-colored spathe, was usually epidendric 

 on the trunks and branches of trees, but was sometimes seen growing 

 on the ground. Another very singular Araceous genus had the leaves 

 stout and inflexible, oblong-lanceolate, three to four feet in length, 

 and projecting obliquely upwards, conspicuous along the cliffs of the 

 sea-coast. 



Next in frequency after the above nineteen Families of plants, were 



